Hitachi Metals, Ltd. has announced its successful development of metal interconnect materials with higher oxidation resistance and strength for use in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC).
Interconnects , an important component comprising SOFCs, function to electrically connect individual cells. Among the characteristics demanded in materials are oxidation resistance over sustained periods of time at certain operating temperature ranges (700–850°C, for example), excellent electrical conductivity, and a coefficient of thermal expansion close to that of zirconia ceramics electrolytes.