Abstract
The increasing demand on energy has stimulated extensive research on renewable and alternative energy utilization. Research on fuel cells has accelerated due to their limiting emission of only water vapor. A number of different types of fuel cells have been developed; however, recent attention has focused on solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) due to their high efficiency. The development of thin film SOFCs has resulted in the reduction the SOFC operating temperature due to the much thinner electrolyte layer. Nanostructured thin film SOFCs promise to be an efficient and effective energy producer for the future. Reduction of operating temperature is critical to the full commercial utilization of SOFCs and the realization of their fuel efficiency and environmental benefits. Fuel cells directly convert the chemical energy of fuel into electricity. Fuel cells are capable of using practical fuels with minimal environmental pollution. Fuel cells have the advantages of modular construction and low operating noise.