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Improving Single-Chamber Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Performance by Plasma Treatment Using an Atmospheric-Pressure Helium Plasma Jet

Seiji Kanazawa, Tadasuke Iwao, Shuichi Akamine, and Ryuta Ichiki

(Received November 10, 2010; revised February 21, 2011; accepted February 22, 2011; published online August 22, 2011)

An atmospheric-pressure helium plasma jet was used for the surface treatment of the electrodes in single-chamber solid oxide fuel cells (SC-SOFCs). The jet-type plasma source used in this study is suitable for the continuous and fine-area processing of materials, such as patterned electrodes. The basic plasma property was investigated by optical emission spectroscopy. Improvement in the performance of SC-SOFC was observed for the plasma-treated cell. From the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation, it was found that the surface morphology of the cell was largely changed. The increase in the area of the three-phase boundary among the electrode, electrolyte, and gas phase promoted electrochemical reactions. Under single-chamber operation condition at 850 °C, an open circuit voltage of 650 mV and a maximum power density of approximately 75 mW/cm² were achieved for a coplanar-type cell.

URL: http://jjap.jsap.jp/link?JJAP/50/08KA04/
DOI: 10.1143/JJAP.50.08KA04
PACS: 82.47.Ed, 52.77.-j, 68.37.Hk, 68.55.-a

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