Solid Oxide Fuel Cell
A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is a device that converts chemical energy stored in a fuel (usually hydrogen) into electrical energy via an electrochemical reaction with oxygen. It gets its name from the solid oxide electrolyte material, most commonly yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ).
SOFCs are generally run at high temperatures to increase the ionic conductivity in the electrolyte. Operation well over 100 °C is beneficial, as it avoids water clogging, one of the biggest problems with proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. It also allows use of various fuels other than hydrogen. Whereas a PEM catalyst is poisoned by trace amounts of carbon monoxide, carbon monoxide can be used as a fuel in SOFCs. Some SOFCs may also be run on higher hydrocarbons such as butane or pentane, meaning that the transition to a hydrogen economy may be facilitated by SOFCs.
Other sections: Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell, Direct Methanol Fuel Cell
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