Miniaturization and power demands of future portable electronic devices
require the development of high-power density, easily rechargeable and
smallscale power sources. Single-chamber solid oxide fuel cells
(SC-SOFCs) constitute a promising approach as the use of a mixture of
fuel and oxidant permits simplification of conventional fuel cell
systems and development of new cell configurations such as coplanar
micro-electrode designs, where microscale anode and cathode are both
situated on the same side of the electrolyte. However, the working
principles of SC-microSOFCs are not yet fully understood, partly due to
the lack of suitable fabrication techniques. In this book, a
direct-write microfabrication method was evaluated for creating
SC-microSOFCs with coplanar electrodes, and the process steps are
discussed in detail. Different parameters affecting the performance of
the cells were characterized, including electrode size, shape and
material. The obtained results should facilitate fabrication and enable
more insight into the operating principles of SC-microSOFCs, and should
be useful to those working in the field of micro fuel cells,
energy-harvesting systems, MEMS and sensors.