More cost-effective, industrial scale production of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) interconnectors starts here. As new stack designs for stationary power units are capable of reducing operating temperatures to the 600 – 800°C range, alternatives to traditional ceramic plate materials can now be explored. Solutions like Sanergy™ HT.
By combining a resilient, low-cost substrate with a protective coating to avoid Cr evaporation and resulting cell degradation, Sanergy™ HT is the product, produced in our state-of-the-art roll-to-roll coating line of mass production technology. Commercially available ferritic stainless steel, carefully combined with a very thin, uniform PVD-coating CeCo, Sanergy™ HT is designed to extend SOFC lifetime.
Alleima coated steel strip benefits
As well as streamlining the production process, Sanergy™ HT technology provides a multi-layered CeCo nanocoating to dramatically reduce chromium evaporation from the plate due to its cobalt coating. The corrosion resistance properties of the interconnect are enhanced with the cerium coating. This can be seen in the smaller mass grain and a thinner Cr2O3 layer formation after long-term exposure of the material at 800°C.
Good adhesion of the coating enables the forming of the coated stainless strip steel to the desired interconnect shape. The self-healing properties of the coating ensure the same excellent performance of Sanergy™ before and after forming. Any microscopic cracks introduced to the coating by forming heal and disappear completely during operation of the fuel cell.
Ferritic stainless steel is used as the standard stainless steel for coating. Other grades are available upon request.
Why Sanergy™ HT coated strip steel for SOFC interconnects
- Minimizes chromium evaporation
- Low area-specific resistance
- Excellent high-temperature corrosion resistance ensures low electrical degradation
- Good processing and forming characteristics
- Well-matched thermal expansion to other cell components
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