Researchers at DTU Energy Conversion has transformed an
ordinary HP 1000 ink jet printer into a printer able to print efficient energy
conversion devices such as Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC).
SOFCs have attracted increasing attention over the last two
decades due to high energy conversion efficiency, efficiency, fuel flexibility
and low environmental impact, but the technology still has some challenges
related to cost and durability before gaining entry at commercial markets. Some
of those challenges might be solved using inkjet printers, both as a
development tool to reduce the
design-prototype-test cycle time for the development of new cell types, and as
a manufacturing tool where entire SOFC stacks are printed using significantly
smaller amounts of materials than traditional manufacturing processes.