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

Abstract

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.