Application of RF GDOES to Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC)

Solid oxide fuel cells are based on the chemical oxidation of the fuel rather than its combustion and offers high efficiency without forming air pollutants. A unit cell typically provides a voltage of 0.7V, cells are therefore stacked (series connections) to provide useful voltages. Various geometries of cells do exist (planar & circular).

The operation temperature of the SOFC is usually high (over 1000°C), the materials in use (ceramic & ceramic coatings on metals) react under these severe conditions and lot of research is therefore needed where GDOES takes a role. New types of cells operating at intermediate temperatures “IT SOFC” (225°C in ref 4 for instances) are also developed leading to new classes of materials to be investigated.