Abstract: A process for the conditioning of and applying a ceramic or other layer onto the surface of a sheet of stainless steel comprises the steps of (a) optionally annealing the steel plate or sheet in a protective gas atmosphere at an elevated temperature, (b) controlled etching of the surface of the sheet to produce a roughened surface and (c) depositing a protective and electrically conductive layer onto the roughened metallic surface. The process leads to coated metallic sheets with desirable properties, primarily to be used as interconnects in solid oxide fuel cells and solid oxide electrolysis cells.

Abstract: Solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) stack obtainable by a process comprising the use of a glass sealant with composition 50 to 70 wt % SiO2, 0 to 20 wt % Al2O3, 10 to 50 wt % CaO, 0 to 10 wt % MgO, 0 to 2 wt % (Na2o 1K2O), 0 to 10 wt % b2O3, and 0 to 5 wt % of functional elements selected from TiO2, ZrO2, ZrO2, F, P2O5, Mo03, FeO3, MnO 2, La—Sr—Mn—O perovskite (LSM) and combinations thereof. Preferably, the sealant is a sheet of E-glass fibres with a composition in wt % of 52-56 SiO2, 12-16AL2O3, 16-25 CaO, 0-6MgO, 0-2 Na2+K2O, 0-10 B2O3, 0-1.5 TiO2, O-1F.