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2026 Vol.36, Issue 7

Research Paper

Optimizing Ionic Transport in Metal-Supported Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: Influence of Electrolyte Thickness
Mohammed Kamal Warshi12
,
Zheng Dao Jin2
,
Sang Eun Lee2
,
Kyoung-jin Lee3
,
Hee Jung Park12†
1Hydrogen Research Center, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Republic of Korea
2Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Republic of Korea
3Wonik Materials, Chungju 28219, Republic of Korea
†Corresponding author E-Mail : parkjang@dankook.ac.kr (H. J. Park, Dankook Univ.)
27 July 2026. pp. 233-242
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Abstract

Metal-supported solid oxide fuel cells (MS-SOFCs) represent a promising advancement for intermediate-temperature energy conversion applications due to their enhanced mechanical robustness and rapid startup capabilities. This investigation systematically evaluates the correlation between yttria-stabilized zirconia (8YSZ) electrolyte thickness and electrochemical performance in NiFe-supported architectures. Three distinct cells featuring YSZ electrolyte thicknesses of 7.05, 14.2, and 21.2 µm were fabricated via tape casting and co-sintering at 1,350 °C, while maintaining identical NiFe support (280 µm) and Ni-YSZ anode (22 µm) thicknesses. Electrochemical characterizations revealed a clear inverse relationship between electrolyte thickness and cell performance. The cell with the thinnest electrolyte (7.05 µm) achieved the highest power density of 0.32 W/cm2 at 800 °C, representing a 4.6-fold improvement compared to the thickest variant (21.2 µm). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and distribution of relaxation times analysis confirmed that ohmic resistance dominated the total cell impedance, and scaled linearly with electrolyte thickness, while electrode kinetics remained consistent. This study establishes that thin YSZ electrolytes (≤ 8 µm) prepared via co-sintering fabrication maximize MS-SOFC performance while maintaining structural integrity, providing an essential design for high-performance metal-supported fuel cell development.

Keywords
metal-supported solid oxide fuel cell
electrolyte thickness
tape casting
co-sintering
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Information
  • Publisher :Materials Research Society of Korea
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국재료학회
  • Journal Title :Korean Journal of Materials Research
  • Journal Title(Ko) :한국재료학회지
  • Volume : 36
  • No :7
  • Pages :233-242
  • Received Date : 2026-05-28
  • Revised Date : 2026-06-29
  • Accepted Date : 2026-06-30
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.3740/MRSK.2026.36.7.233
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