Micro solid oxide fuel cells: a new generation of micro-power sources for portable applications

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent advances in micro solid oxide fuel cells ({}SOFC) for portable devices, highlighting progress in low-temperature operation, design, materials, and deployment strategies to enable efficient, sustainable, and miniaturized power sources.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of the latest developments, challenges, and future strategies for {}SOFC technology tailored for portable applications.

Findings

Achieved lower operating temperatures of 350-450B0C for {}SOFCs.

Identified key challenges in cell design and material integration.

Outlined strategies for widespread deployment of portable {}SOFCs.

Abstract

Portable electronic devices are already an indispensable part of our daily life; and their increasing number and demand for higher performance is becoming a challenge for the research community. In particular, a major concern is the way to efficiently power these energy-demanding devices, assuring long grid independency with high efficiency, sustainability and cheap production. In this context, technologies beyond Li-ion are receiving increasing attention, among which the development of micro solid oxide fuel cells ({\mu}SOFC) stands out. In particular, {\mu}SOFC provides a high energy density, high efficiency and opens the possibility to the use of different fuels, such as hydrocarbons. Yet, its high operating temperature has typically hindered its application as miniaturized portable device. Recent advances have however set a completely new range of lower operating temperatures, i.e. 350-450C, as compared to the typical >900C needed for classical bulk SOFC systems. In this work, a comprehensive review of the status of the technology is presented. The main achievements, as well as the most important challenges still pending are discussed, regarding (i.) the cell design and microfabrication, and (ii.) the integration of functional electrolyte and electrode materials. To conclude, the different strategies foreseen for a wide deployment of the technology as new portable power source are underlined.