Design of Interfaces of Electrolyte, Anode/Electrolyte in SOFCs and Interfaces in PEMFCs

Fuel cells are efficient energy conversion devices that convert the chemical energy of fuels such as hydrogen, methanol, and natural gas directly into electricity with high efficiency. Among fuel cells, solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have been actively developed as household generators. In particular, PEMFCs are being increasingly implemented in the society as vehicle engine components. To develop the ‘state-of-the-art fuel cell’ devices with the quality exceeding the limit of conventional SOFCs and PEMFCs, the design of defect interfaces in the fuel cells devices is key challenge. To take the opportunity to see new insight and innovative results in the challenge for develop the ‘state-of-the-art fuel cell’ devices and systems, multidisciplinary team work is quite important. In the present chapter, the representative data about the interactive research works of fabrication, microanalysis and modeling for the design of defect interfaces in/on rare-earth-doped ceria, stabilized zirconia, and brownmillerite-based oxides as SOFC components (i.e., electrolyte and anode) are introduced. Also, the authors introduced the representative data for improvement of Pt cathode performance and CO tolerance on Pt surface in PEMFCs in our multidisciplinary team works. For broad range readers, the general theory is introduced at first. The present chapter has the general theory part, followed by critical literature review part. In the critical review part, the authors highlight new insight and originality in our interactive research works. After literature review, we are going to take experimental part which includes advices for implementation of experiments. Then we re-introduces the representative results of our multidisciplinary team works in the results and discussion part. At the end of this chapter, the authors show the future prospect for development of ‘state-of-the-art fuel cells’ based on the results of our multidisciplinary challenges.