Improving the durability of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) stacks. The commercial success of SOFC will be guaranteed if high electrochemical performance and low fabrication costs are attained. Energy Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) offer the possibility to produce electricity with high efficiencies and at pollution levels much lower than for conventional power generation plants. Low power density and low fuel utilization are the main functional parameters that influence the lifetime of SOFCs, making them last for a very long period of time. However, if high power densities, high fuel utilization and long life times are not simultaneously attained SOFC technology will not be competitive with traditional power generation technologies. Ten European laboratories collaborated in order to study the relation between the electrochemical performance and the lifetime of a SOFC stack. The aim of the project was to improve the SOFC lifetime without increasing the production cost, or decreasing the SOFC stack performance. As the degradation of the materials of SOFC grossly affects the durability and, subsequently, the cost of SOFC technology, a better understanding of the fundamentals of the degradation processes of SOFC components was necessary. Fabrication techniques of starting powders and ceramic cells were also improved. In order to test the SOFC stack durability, accelerated tests were undertaken. The operation temperature proved not to be important in controlling the degradation rate, whereas the current density was of great importance for the electrodes lifetime. The fuel utilization was very important only for the anode durability. The improvements made in the durability of SOFC stacks by studying all parameters that can influence their lifetime could be of great importance in order to accelerate their commercial success.
