Patent ID: 8029937

Claim:
A solid oxide fuel cell device comprising: an elongate ceramic substrate having an exterior surface, an interior solid ceramic support structure, and a length that is the greatest dimension whereby the elongate ceramic substrate exhibits thermal expansion along a dominant axis that is coextensive with the length, opposing first and second sides along the length, a reaction zone along a first portion of the length configured to be exposed to a heat source to heat the reaction zone to an operating reaction temperature, and at least one cold zone along a second portion of the length configured to be shielded from the heat source to remain at a low temperature below the operating reaction temperature when the reaction zone is heated; a first multi-layer anode-cathode structure comprising a plurality of anodes in opposing relation with a plurality of cathodes in the reaction zone and an electrolyte disposed between each of the opposing anodes and cathodes, the electrolyte, anodes and cathodes extending within the interior solid ceramic support structure, the electrolyte being monolithic with the interior solid ceramic support structure, and each of the plurality of anodes and cathodes having one or more tab portions extending from within the interior solid ceramic support structure to one of the opposing first and second sides to form electrical pathways to a respective plurality of exposed anode and cathode surfaces; a plurality of external contact pads on one or both of the opposing first and second sides over the exposed anode and cathode surfaces to electrically connect the anodes and cathodes in series and/or parallel.