A study of the electrophoretic deposition of thin-film coatings based on barium cerate nanopowder produced by laser evaporation

Abstract

The method of laser ablation of a target, followed by condensation, was used to obtain a weakly aggregated BCSO nanopowder from barium cerate. The dispersity, fraction composition of the nanopowder, electrokinetic potential of its nonaqueous dispersions, and electrokinetic parameters of the electrophoretic deposition process were determined. An ultrasonic treatment produced a stable suspension of the BCSO nanopowder in a mixed isopropanol–acetyl acetone medium (70/30 vol %). The suspension is characterized by a high and positive ζ-potential of +30 mV. The electrophoretic deposition onto a dense model cathode was used to obtain thin-film BCSO coatings that are of interest for the technology of solid-oxide fuel cells. The phase composition of the coating was examined. It was found that the successive annealings of the nanopowder at temperatures of 800–1400°C make it possible to reduce the content of unidentified crystalline phases in BCSO to trace levels (< 5 vol %).