Abstract

The electrolyte for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC’s) must be stable in both reducing and oxidizing environments and have sufficient ionic, as well as low electronic, conductivity at the operation temperature. Present SOFC’s have extensively used stabilized zirconia, especially yttria stabilized zirconia, as the electrolyte. However, oxide ion conductors, such as doped ceria and perovskite-type oxides, have also been proposed as the electrolyte materials for SOFC’s, especially for reduced-temperature of operation (600°C to 800°C), now known as intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFC).