Mechanism of improved electrochemical performance of anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells by mesostructural modification of electrode–electrolyte interface

The mechanism whereby structural modification on the mesoscale order (10–100 ?m) improves electrochemical performance of anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) is elucidated. After preparing two types SOFC having different electrode–electrolyte interfacial areas, we carry out their analyses and characterization. Next, develop a two-dimensional (2D) numerical model in which structures are implemented then verify its validity by comparing experimental simulation results. It found that features mesoscale-modified cell, such as area enlargement thickness inhomogeneity, cause nonuniform distributions physicochemical quantities contribute to reactions. Consequently, decreases ohmic activation overpotentials cell relative flat respectively larger smaller than those estimated under assumptions ionic charge-transfer current densities uniformly distributed cell. Moreover, density distribution has strong nonuniformity at high density, leading large decrease loss. Furthermore, overpotential more reduced higher density; thus, mesostructural SOFCs can lead performance.