Degradation of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Cathodes Accelerated at a High Water Vapor Concentration

Abstract

The influence of water vapor in air on power generation characteristic of solid oxide fuel cells was analyzed by measuring cell voltage at a constant current density, as a function of water vapor concentration at 800°C and 1000°C. Cell voltage change was negligible at 1000°C, while considerable voltage drop was observed at 800°C accelerated at high water vapor concentrations of 20 wt % and 40 wt %. It is considered that La2O3 formed on the (La0.8Sr0.2)0.98MnO3 surface, which is assumed to be the reason for a large voltage drop.