Inhibitor for prevention of braze migration in solid oxide fuel cells

• Main Authors: DEROSE, ANTHONY J, FLEMING, CAROLYN DEBORAH, KERR, RICK DANIEL, MUKERJEE, SUBHASISH, KELLER, JOSEPH MICHAEL, MACZINSKI, STEFAN MARK, HALTINER JR., KARL JACOB
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 03.08.2011
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; ELECTRICITY; PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSIONOF CHEMICAL INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY

During manufacture of an SOFC assembly, an inhibitor is included to prevent migration of silver braze during subsequent use of the SOFC assembly. The inhibitor may take any of several forms, either individually or in combination. Inhibitors comprehended by the present invention include, but are not limited to: a) a mechanical barrier (146) that can be printed or dispensed onto one or more SOFC stack elements around the braze (38) areas to prevent mechanically-driven migration; b) an electrically insulating feature (150) in the electrolyte or interlayer over the electrolyte layer (34) in the seal margins to prevent electrical potential-driven migration; and c) chemical modification of the braze (138) itself as by addition of an alloying metal such as palladium.