Edinburgh Napier University

  This PhD project is on the optimisation of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC’s) electrodes produced via Electroless Co-Deposition (ECD). ECD was developed by Edinburgh Napier University to be able to produce SOFC’s electrodes using a simple one step process. The ECD process removes the high temperature sintering and reduction steps normally associated with more traditional manufacturing methods. However, this process requires further optimisation to be able to produce the required microstructure within the electrodes of the cell.

SOFC’s electrodes are required to have suitable microstructure to allow for the electrochemical reactions which power the cell to occur. By improving the microstructure of these electrodes and allowing for a greater density of these reactions to take place, will result in an overall increase in the power density an individual cells is able to produce. This increase in power density from a single cell which has been produced by a quicker and cheaper manufacturing method will allow for a more cost effective SOFC to be manufactured.