Low temperature fabrication of nano-structured porous LSM-YSZ composite cathode film by aerosol deposition

Abstract

A low temperature (<= 500 degrees C) process for fabricating nano structured porous LSM-YSZ composite films, similar to 35 mu m in thickness, for use as a cathode in the low temperature solid oxide fuel cell (LT-SOFC) was developed using a ceramic-polymer composite powder and an aerosol deposition (AD) process. Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymer powder was mixed with LSM and YSZ ceramic powders, as a pore former to prepare the composite powder for AD. The deposited LSM-YSZ composite ceramic film maintained good adhesion with the YSZ electrolyte and showed >40% porosity with a particle and pore size of 10-100 and 100-200 nm, respectively. The peak power density of the YSZ electrolyte-based, anode-supported-type cell with the nano-structured LSM-YSZ cathode produced by AD was 140 mW/cm(2) at 600 degrees C. 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.