Improved Electrolyte Performance in Plasma Sprayed SOFCs by Electrode Modification

Electrolytes were deposited by atmospheric suspension plasma spraying (SPS) in metal-supported SOFCs having both anode- and cathode-down configurations. The electrodes on the metal supports were made thin (<30 mu m) and smooth (average roughness <2.5 mu m) to reduce segmentation cracking and concentrated porosity formation in the electrolytes. Anode-down cells with 21 mu m thick, segmentation crack-free electrolytes achieved open circuit voltages (OCVs) above 1.05 V at 750 degrees C. The electrolytes in the cathode-down cells were more susceptible to segmentation cracking. A peak OCV of 1.04 V was attained by a cathode-down cell, though performance declined significantly within 4 hours. (C) 2013 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.