Cathode electrolyte systems for solid oxide fuel cells fabricated using flame assisted vapour deposition technique

Flame assisted vapour deposition (FAVD) has been developed as a simple and cost-effective method in manufacturing solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) components in an open atmosphere within a single operation. An appropriate interlayer between the cathode/electrolyte system has been demonstrated to improve the conductivities in planar SOFCs. Cathode/electrolyte systems with different interlayers, such as La(0.82)Sr(0.18)MnO(3)/(Y(2)O(3))(0.15)(CeO(2))(0.85)/YSZ, La(0.8)Sr(0.2)CoO(3)/(Y(2)O(3))(0.15)(CeO(2))(0.85)/YSZ, and L(0.8)Sr(0.2)CoO(3)/Ce(0.8)Gd(0.2)O(1.9)/YSZ have been investigated and compared with La(0.82)Sr(0.18)MnO(3)/YSZ, La(0.8)Sr(0.2)CoO(3)/Ce(0.8)Gd(0.2)O(1.9), and La(0.8)Sr(0.2)CoO(3)/YSZ, where YSZ is 8 mol.% Y(2)O(3) in ZrO(2). The structure and properties of the cathodes have been studied using SEM, XRD, DC four-point (Van der Pauw), and AC impedance spectroscopy. The results from these new systems indicate a superior performance in overall conductivity than the conventional La(0.82)Sr(0.18)MnO(3)/YSZ system. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.