Our fuel cell design

Fuel cells are similar to a battery with an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte. Unlike batteries, though, they do not store energy or run flat.

World-leading experience

Since the company's formation in 1992, Ceramic Fuel Cells has had significant experience in the development of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC). Our team of scientists and engineers are experts in their fields and have spent years developing fuel cells that offer world-leading efficiencies.

Our experience and know-how spreads across the entire fuel cell production process: from ceramic power production for electrolytes, anodes and cathodes right through to glass sealing technologies for finished fuel stacks.

Our fuel cell technology

Ceramic Fuel Cell's technology is built around anode-supported cells (ASC). Their key feature is that the anode is the physical supporting structure, which allows the electrolyte layer to be very thin, offering low electrical resistance.
 

We've designed our fuel cells to use low-cost widely available materials, such as:

Anode support - Yttria-doped Zirconia (YSZ)

Anode - Nickel oxide

Electrolyte - thin Yttria-doped Zirconia (YSZ) membrane

Cathode - Strontium doped lanthanum manganite

The anode-supported fuel cells are typically 260 to 280 microns thick and operate at < 780 degrees Celsius, with a much higher power density compared to electrolyte-supported fuel cells.

Being a sophisticated ceramic composite, anode supported fuel cells have higher coefficient of thermal expansion and are better suited to metal-ceramic stacks.

The planar (flat plate) design is better suited for high volume mass production, using existing ceramic manufacturing technology. The planar design allows more flexibility in stack geometry and smaller stack sizes, making it best suited for domestic applications.

For more information about how a fuel cell works, download our range of ‘Fuel cell facts' information sheets.