COMPOSITE CERAMIC ELECTROLYTE STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF FORMING; AND RELATED ARTICLES

• Main Authors: STRIKER TODD-MICHAEL, RENOU STEPHANE, RUUD JAMES ANTHONY
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 04.12.2008
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION ORPROCESSING OF GOODS; ELECTRICITY; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSIONOF CHEMICAL INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY; REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGYGENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINSTCLIMATE CHANGE

A composite ceramic electrolyte is provided. The composite ceramic electrolyte has a microstructure, which comprises a first ceramic composition comprising a plurality of nano-dimensional microcracks, and a second ceramic composition substantially embedded within at least a portion of the plurality of nano-dimensional microcracks. The first and the second compositions are different. A solid oxide fuel cell comprising a composite ceramic electrolyte having such a microstructure is provided. A method of making a composite ceramic electrolyte is also described. The method includes the steps of: providing a first ceramic composition comprising a plurality of nano-dimensional microcracks; and closing a number of the nano-dimensional microcracks with a second ceramic composition, wherein the first and the second compositions are different, so as to form a composite ceramic electrolyte having a microstructure which comprises a first ceramic composition comprising a plurality of nano-dimensional microcracks and a second ceramic composition substantially embedded within at least a portion of the plurality of nano-dimensional microcracks.