Abstract

This review presents three directions in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology development involving solid-state carbon insome stage of the fuel-to-electricity conversion process: direct carbon (DC-SOFC), integrated gasification (IG-SOFC) anddeposited carbon (rechargeable SOFC). Recent achievements of science and technology were studied in order to identifythe most widely developed concepts. In addition, the review contains a statistical approach to published patents and articles,naming the people and institutions active in the field. Simultaneous development of all three technologies could bringsynergies and contributed to a major breakthrough in the efficiency of coal-fired power plants.