Performance Benchmark of Planar Solid Oxide Cells Based on Material Development and Designs

Solid oxide cell (SOC) technology currently attracts great attention due to its unique potential for substantially contributing to a carbon-neutral power supply. The variety in possible designs and applications—covering oxygen ion and proton conductors and the ability to convert surplus electricity to easily storable synthetic fuels, as well as to produce electricity from these fuels according to demand and availability—provides the excellent position of SOCs with regard to decentralized power generation and distribution. Herein, a reference work on cell performance is provided by highlighting specific advantages of the different cell types, designs, and materials with regard to certain operating conditions, including challenges concerning operational modes, processing, and degradation. In conjunction with a critical examination in terms of relevance and technical feasibility, the data provided enable an assessment of the general potential of the cell types for technology development and connect scientific research to industrial considerations.