Abstract
Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) have attracted significant attention due to the potential for environmentally-friendly power generation with high efficiency, fuel flexibility, and zero/no emissions. However, the main hurdles thwarting the commercial introduction of SOFCs are the stack cost and durability, particularly related to the long-term stability of stack/cell materials such as the interconnect 1-3. There has been recent interest in utilizing the Cr2O3-forming alloys as interconnect for intermediate-temperature SOFCs4-6. As a consequence, volatile Cr species from the Cr2O3 scale can cause severe degradation of electrical and catalytic properties of the cathode7-9. Here, we report a new low-Cr Fe-Co-Ni base alloy that demonstrates a close match in coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) with adjacent cell components; good oxidation resistance; and low oxide scale area specific resistance (ASR). The formation of a Cr-free (Fe,Co,Ni)3O4 spinel outer layer over the chromia inner layer upon thermal exposure effectively reduces the chromium evaporation.