Journal article
Development of thin-film nano-structured electrolyte layers for application in anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells
Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Institute of Energy Research, IEF-1: Materials Synthesis and Processing, Leo-Brandt-Strasse, D-52425 Jülich, Germany
This paper reports a study on the deposition of sol particles for the preparation of thin and ultra-thin electrolyte membrane layers (thickness<5 μm–50 nm), which cannot be produced with regular powder-based processes. For the deposition process, a range of coating liquids with varying particle sizes, covering the complete range between standard suspensions with a particle size of several 100 nm and nano-particle sols, was prepared.
In the first part, it is demonstrated that a colloidal sol route can be used for membrane formation on a regular macroporous SOFC anode (NiO/zirconia), when the sol particle size is adapted to the pore structure of the anode (particle size ∼200 nm). SEM characterization indicated a thickness in the range 3–4 μm after calcination at 600 °C and ca. 2 μm after sintering at 1400 °C, far below the limit for conventional powder-based deposition methods.
In the second part, ultra-thin zirconia and ceria membrane films are prepared by spraying sols containing nano-particles (average size 5–6 nm). The layers show a thickness of ∼100 nm, a very narrow particle size distribution and tight ultra-microporous structure, which allows a sintering treatment below 1000 °C, and can be used as an additional electrolyte layer for improving the leak rate of the cell or as diffusion barrier.
Language: | English |
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Year: | 2008 |
Pages: | 428-437 |
ISSN: | 18727689 and 01672738 |
Types: | Journal article |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.ssi.2008.02.010 |