METHODS TO IMPROVE THE DURABILITY OF METAL-SUPPORTED SOLID OXIDE ELECTROCHEMICAL DEVICES

This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus related to metal-supported solid oxide electrochemical devices. In one aspect, a stainless steel support of a device is oxidized. A coating is deposited on an oxygen-electrode side of the stainless steel support of the device. The coating is operable to reduce chromium evaporation from the stainless steel support. A structure including an oxygen catalyst on the oxygen-electrode side of the device and a fuel catalyst on a fuel-electrode side of the stainless steel support of the device, with an electrolyte disposed between the oxygen catalyst and the fuel catalyst, is formed. The device is thermally treated at a temperature of about 10° C. to 400° C. above an operating temperature of about 600° C. to 800° C. of the device, the oxygen-electrode side of the device being in an oxidizing atmosphere and the fuel-electrode side of the device being in a reducing atmosphere.