Development of Electrodeposition Coating for SOFC Interconnector

ENE-FARM type S equipped with solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack has been commercialized since 2012. To further expand the market of ENE-FARM type S, higher electrical efficiency, higher durability, and lower cost of SOFC stack are required. A coating on a SOFC metallic interconnector is the key technology for the long-term durability of SOFC. In this research, we achieved a significant reduction in resistance and improved durability by improving the highly mass-producible electrodeposition coating method, one of the ceramic coating methods for the SOFC metallic interconnector. Furthermore, the cost of metallic interconnector has been reduced using commodity stainless steel due to its high durability. The SOFC stack of the 2016 model equipped with the electrodeposition coating on the commodity ferritic stainless steel had higher performance and durability than the 2012 model, even if the current density was increased approximately 1.5 times. The electrodeposition coating on commodity ferritic stainless steel has been commercialized and installed in the 2016 and 2020 models of ENE-FARM type S.