New materials for solid oxide fuel cells: state of art and perspectives

Electrochemical fuel cells are considered as serious alternative power source to the conventional energy systems. Many efforts have been achieved during last decade in the technology of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) - the most advanced type of fuel cells. Improvements of SOFC still necessary prior commercialisation require development or modification of materials used as electrolyte, electrodes, interconnect and sealant in the electrochemical cell. The paper presents recent progress on this field and discuss the possible alternatives for the chemicals used at present in the prototype SOFC plants. Requirements for the certain SOFC element materials are specified from the point of view: decreasing the operation temperature, compatibility of different materials and catalytic properties for the direct hydrocarbon fuel reforming. Recent literature data are supplemented by the results of author's thermochemical studies on the SOFC materials.