Preparation of yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) films on La0.85Sr0.15MnO3 (LSM) and LSM-YSZ substrates using an electrophoretic deposition (EPD) process

Preparation of high-quality yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolyte fi lms on porous substrates is critical to the fabrication of high-performance solid-state ionic devices such as fuel cells and gas sensors. An electroph oretic deposition (EPD) process is investigated for the preparation of YSZ electrolyte films on both porous La0.85Sr0.15MnO3 (LSM) and porous LSM-YSZ composite substrates. The Pechini process is used for the preparation of fi ne LSM powders with an average particle size of about 0.1 mum. The processi ng parameters critically influencing the microstructures of green YSZ films are identified and optimized to obtain uniform, crack-free green YSZ films with high packing density of fine YSZ particles. Dense YSZ films with a th ickness of about 10 mum have been successfully fabricated on both porous LS M and porous LSM-YSZ substrates when sintered at 1250 degreesC for 2 h. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.