I. V. Ionov

Magnetron formation of Ni/YSZ anodes of solid oxide fuel cells

Physico-chemical and structural properties of nanocomposite NiO/ZrO2:Y2O3 (NiO/YSZ) films applied using the reactive magnetron deposition technique are studied for application as anodes of solid oxide fuel cells. The effect of oxygen consumption and magnetron power on the discharge parameters is determined to find the optimum conditions of reactive deposition. The conditions for deposition of NiO/YSZ films, under which the deposition rate is maximum (12 μm/h), are found and the volume content of Ni is within the range of 40–50%. Ni-YSZ films reduced in a hydrogen atmosphere at the temperature of 800°C have a nanoporous structure. However, massive nickel agglomerates are formed in the course of reduction on the film surface; their amount grows at an increase in Ni content in the film. Solid oxide fuel cells with YSZ supporting electrolyte and a LaSrMnO3 cathode are manufactured to study electrochemical properties of NiO/YSZ films. It is shown that fuel cells with a nanocomposite NiO/YSZ anode applied using a magnetron sputtering technique have the maximum power density twice higher than in the case of fuel cells with an anode formed using the high-temperature sintering technique owing to a more developed gas-anode-electrolyte three-phase boundary.

Synthesis and investigation of porous Ni-Al substrates for solid-oxide fuel cells

Self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) is applied for the production of porous supporting Ni-Al bases of solid-oxide fuel cells. The effect of synthesis conditions and the composition of source powders on the phase composition, microstructure, gas permeability, corrosion resistance, and other properties of obtained Ni-Al samples is investigated. The possibility is shown for the formation of solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) on the surface of porous Ni-Al plates. The cells have the structure Ni-ZrO3:Y2O3 anode/ZrO3:Y2O3 electrolyte/La0.8Mn0.2SrO3 cathode and provide a specific power of 400 mW/cm2 at a temperature of 800°C.

Formation of NiO/YSZ functional anode layers of solid oxide fuel cells by magnetron sputtering

The decrease in the polarization resistance of the anode of solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) due to the formation of an additional NiO/(ZrO2 + 10 mol % Y2O3) (YSZ) functional layer was studied. NiO/YSZ films with different NiO contents were deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering of Ni and Zr–Y targets. The elemental and phase composition of the films was adjusted by regulating oxygen flow rate during the sputtering. The resulting films were studied by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffractometry. Comparative tests of planar SOFCs with a NiO/YSZ anode support, NiO/YSZ functional nanostructured anode layer, YSZ electrolyte, and La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3/Ce0.9Gd0.1O2 (LSCF/CGO) cathode were performed. It was shown that the formation of a NiO/YSZ functional nanostructured anode leads to a 15–25% increase in the maximum power density of fuel cells in the working temperature range 500–800°C. The NiO/YSZ nanostructured anode layers lead not only to a reduction of the polarization resistance of the anode, but also to the formation of denser electrolyte films during subsequent magnetron sputtering of electrolyte.

Comparison of characteristics of solid oxide fuel cells with YSZ and CGO film solid electrolytes formed using magnetron sputtering technique

The work describes the methods of manufacturing single cells of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) with thin–film YSZ and CGO electrolytes and also with the bilayer YSZ/CGO electrolyte. Formation of YSZ and CGO films on the supporting NiO–YSZ anode of SOFC was carried out using the combined electron–ionic–plasma deposition technique. The microstructure and phase composition of the formed coatings are studied and also comparative analysis of electrochemical characteristics of single fuel cells with different electrolytes is performed. It is shown that the maximum power density of 1.35 W/cm2 at the temperature of 800°C is obtained for the cell with bilayer YSZ/CGO electrolyte. However, the highest performance at lower working temperatures (650–700°C) is characteristic for the fuel cell with single–layer CGO electrolyte; its power density is 600–650 mW/cm2.

Single SOFC with Supporting Ni-YSZ Anode, Bilayer YSZ/GDC Film Electrolyte, and La2NiO4 + δ Cathode

Characteristics of fuel cells with supporting Ni-YSZ anode, bilayer YSZ/GDC electrolyte with the thickness of 10 μm, and La2NiO4 + δ cathode are studied. It is shown that when humid (3% water) hydrogen is supplied to the anode and air is supplied to the cathode, the maximum values of cell’s power density are 1.05 and 0.75 W/cm2 at 900 and 800°С, respectively. After the introduction of praseodymium oxide and ceria into the cathode and the anode, respectively, the power density is ca. 1 W/cm2 at 700°С. It is found that the power density of a cell with impregnated electrodes weakly increases with the increase in temperature to ca. 1.4 W/cm2 at 900°С. The analysis of impedance spectra by the distribution of relaxation times shows that such behavior is associated with the gas-diffusion resistance of the SOFC anode. The latter is explained by the low porosity of the anode and the high rate of fuel consumption.

Performance Characteristics of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells with YSZ/CGO Electrolyte

This paper presents the results of performance evaluation of anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) with magnetron sputtered YSZ/CGO bilayer electrolyte, and composite LSCF-CGO cathode. Deposition of the YSZ/CGO electrolyte with the thickness of up to 14 microns was performed on the commercial anode substrates with dimensions of 5×5 cm2. The LSCF-CGO cathode of the fuel cells was formed by the screen-printing method. The microstructure of the YSZ/CGO bilayer electrolyte and LSCF-CGO cathode was studied by scanning electron microscopy. Comparison of the fuel cells performance with different thicknesses of the YSZ and CGO layers was carried out by measuring current-voltage and power characteristics, and also by testing the long-term stability of cell power at the temperature of 750 °C and voltage of 0.7 V.

Deposition of a Thin-Film CGO Electrolyte for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Reducing the operating temperature of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) from 800-1000°C is one of the main SOFC research goals. It can be achieved by lowering the thickness of an electrolyte (ZrO2:Y2O3 (YSZ) is widely used as electrolyte material). On the other hand the problem can be solved by using of another electrolyte material with high ionic conductivity at intermediate temperatures. Therefore the present study deals with magnetron sputtering of ceria gadolinium oxide (CGO), which has a higher conductivity compared to YSZ. The microstructure of CGO layers deposited on porous NiO/YSZ substrates by reactive magnetron sputtering of Ce:Gd cathode is investigated. Current voltage characteristics (CVC) of a fuel cell with NiO/YSZ anode, CGO electrolyte and LSCF/CGO cathode were obtained. It was shown that the power density of a fuel cell with CGO electrolyte weakly depends on the operating temperature in the range of 650-750°C in contradistinction to YSZ electrolyte, and is about 600-650 mW/cm2.