Low temperature preparation and characterization of LSGMC based IT-SOFC cell by aerosol deposition

A low temperature (≤650 °C) process for fabricating nano-structured (La, Sr) (Ga, Mg, Co)O3−δ (LSGMC) electrolyte/(La, Sr) (Co, Fe)O3−δ–(Gd, Ce)O2−δ (LSCF–GDC) cathode films, ∼7 and ∼25 μm in thickness, respectively, was developed using an aerosol deposition (AD) process for use in intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs). NiO–GDC was used as an anode substrate in anode-supported type cells. The deposited LSGMC electrolyte and LSCF–GDC composite cathode film maintained good adhesion with the NiO–GDC anode, even though the coating processes were completed at the room temperature. The LSGMC electrolyte was composed of nano-sized grains smaller than 30 nm. The electrical conductivity of the LSGMC electrolyte fabricated at room-temperature was ∼30 mS/cm at 650 °C. The LSCF–GDC composite cathode showed ≥20% porosity with a grain size ≤100 nm. The peak power density of the LSGMC electrolyte-based, anode-supported-type cell with the nano-structured LSCF–GDC cathode produced at room-temperature by AD was 0.39 W/cm2 at 650 °C.