Fabrication of dense zirconia electrolyte films for tubular solid oxide fuel cells by electrophoretic deposition

Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) is used to produce zirconia electrolyte fi lms for tubular solid oxide fuel cells. A simple suspension chemistry (8-mo l%-yttria-stabilized zirconia particles in acetic acid) yields films of sim ilar quality to those from conventional approaches (such as electrochemical vapor deposition), but at potentially much less expense, A key factor in o btaining high-density, adherent films via the EPD approach is the applicati on of a thin fugitive phase (carbon in this study) on the porous, doped lan thanum manganite cathode tubes prior to zirconia deposition.