ABSTRACT
Energy.security.and.increased.concern.over.environmental.protection.have.spurred. a.dramatic.worldwide.growth.in.research.and.development.of.fuel.cells,.which.electrochemically.convert.incoming.fuel.into.electricity.with.no.or.low.pollution..Fuel. cell.technology.has.become.increasingly.attractive.to.a.number.of.sectors,.including. utility,.automotive,.and.defense. industries..Among.the.various. types.of.fuel.cells,. solid-oxide.fuel.cells.(SOFCs).operate.at.high.temperature.(typically.650.to.1,000°C). and. have. advantages. in. terms. of. high. conversion. efficiency. and. the. flexibility. of. using.hydrocarbon. fuels,. in. addition. to.hydrogen.1-5.The.high-temperature.operation,. however,. can. lead. to. increased. mass. transport. and. interactions. between. the. surrounding.environment. and.components. that. are. required. to.be. stable.during.a. lifetime.of.thousands.of.hours.and.up.to.hundreds.of.thermal.cycles..For.stacks.with. relatively.low.operating.temperatures.(<800ºC),. the.interconnects. that.are.used.to.
