An ion-plasma technique for formation of anode-supported thin electrolyte films for IT-SOFC applications

This paper describes a preparation method and structural and electrochemical properties of a thin bilayer anode-electrolyte structure for a solid oxide fuel cell operating at intermediate temperatures (IT-SOFC). Thin anode-supported yttria-stabilized zirconia electrolyte films were prepared by reactive magnetron sputtering of a Zr–Y target in an Ar–O2 atmosphere. Porous anode surfaces of IT-SOFCs were modified by a pulsed low-energy high-current electron beam prior to film deposition; the influence of this pretreatment on the performance of both the deposited films and a single cell was investigated. The optimal conditions of the pulsed electron beam pretreatment were obtained. For the electrolyte thickness about 2.5 μm and the value of gas permeability of the anode/electrolyte structure 1.01 × 10−7 mol m−2 s−1 Pa−1, the maximum power density achieved for a single cell at 800 °C and 650 °C was found to be 620 and 220 mW cm−2 in air, respectively.