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) compone nts in an open atmosphere within a single operation. An appropriate interla yer between the cathode/electrolyte system has been demonstrated to improve the conductivities in planar SOFCs. Cathode/electrolyte systems with diffe rent interlayers, such as La0.82Sr0.18MnO3/(Y2O3)(0.15)(CeO2)(0.85)/YSZ, La 0.8Sr0.2CoO3/(Y2O3)(0.15)(CeO2)(0.85)/YSZ, and L0.8Sr0.2CoO3/Ce0.8Gd0.2O1.9 /YSZ have been investigated and compared with La0.82Sr0.18MnO3/YSZ, La0.8Sr 0.2CoO3/Ce0.8Gd0.2O1.9, and La0.8Sr0.2CoO3/YSZ, where YSZ is 8 mol.% Y2O3 i n ZrO2. The structure and properties of the cathodes have been studied usin g SEM, XRD, DC four-point (Van der Pauw), and AC impedance spectroscopy. Th e results from these new systems indicate a superior performance in overall conductivity than the conventional La0.82Sr0.18MnO3/YSZ system. (C) 1999 E lsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.