The process, structure and performance of pen cells for the intermediate temperature SOFCs

The paper is principally concerned with strategic investigations based on the development of planar supported thin film electrolyte (STEF) configurations for intermediate temperature SOFC applications. A novel and cost effective electrostatic assisted vapour deposition process has been used to deposit dense YSZ film onto the porous anode substrates. Several approaches were investigated to deposit a dense and crack-free YSZ film onto the porous anode substrate during the fabrication of PEN structure. The use of an amorphous YSZ thin film followed by a crystalline YSZ film deposition using the continuous EAVD process seem to be able to produce a dense and crack-free YSZ film onto the porous NiO-YSZ substrate with a well defined interface. Individual dense/porous films and PEN assembly were characterised using XRD, SEM, and I-V test techniques for structural examination and electrical measurements. (C) 1998 published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.