Application of Catalyst on Oriented Carbon Nanotubes in the Manufacturing of Solid Oxide Fuel Electrodes

The method and system of technological control of the process of applying a catalyst to synthesized vertically aligned carbon nanotube arrays (VACNTs) to the surface of the electrodes of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) are considered. The method includes four stages: synthesis of catalyst nuclei on SOFC electrodes, growth of an insular catalyst, growing VACNTs on catalyst islands., applying the catalyst to the outer and inner surfaces of VACNTs using the proposed device and the algorithm for rotating the electrodes during spraying, allowing for uniform application of the catalyst. The proposed approach will make it possible to obtain a catalyst layer with a high active area on the surface of the electrodes, which contributes to a significant increase in the power of the SOFC and a decrease in their weight and size parameters. The developed system makes it possible to control the height of growing VACNTs in the process of chemical deposition from the gas phase. The experimental verification of the developed method and the monitoring and control system showed a multiple increase in the active area of the catalyst on the surface of the SOFC electrodes, which, as a result, significantly increased their power.