Anode supported protonic solid oxide fuel cells fabricated using electrophoretic deposition

Intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs) were fabricated depositing proton conducting BaCe0.9Y0.1O3–x (BCY10) thick films on cermet substrates made of nickel oxide–yttrium doped barium cerate (NiO–BCY10) using electrophoretic deposition (EPD) technique. The influence of the EPD parameters on the microstructure and electrical properties of BCY10 thick films was investigated. Deposited BCY10 thick films together with green anode substrates were co-sintered in a single heating treatment at 1,550 °C for 2 h to obtain dense electrolyte and suitably porous anodes. The half-cells were characterised by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. A composite cathode specifically developed for BCY electrolytes, made of La0.8Sr0.2Co0.8Fe0.2O3(LSCF, mixed oxygen-ion/electronic conductor) and BaCe0.9Yb0.1O3–d (10YbBC, mixed protonic/electronic conductor), was used. Fuel cells were prepared by slurry coating the composite cathode on the co-sintered halfcells. Fuel cell tests and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were performed in the 550–700 °C temperature range. A maximum power density of 296 mW cm–2 was achieved at 700 °C for electrolyte deposited at 60 V for 1 min.