Magnetron sputtered LSC thin films for solid oxide fuel cell application

In this study, La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-delta (LSC) thin films were deposited by pulsed DC magnetron sputtering at oblique angle of the LSC target. The effect of post-annealing temperature in the range of 600-1000 degrees C on the film crystalline structure was investigated. The phase composition, crystalline structure and surface morphology of the films were determined using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy, respectively. Anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) with bi-layered thin-film yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) / gadolinium-doped ceria (GDC) electrolyte and an LSC thin film interlayer were fabricated. Polarization curves were measured in the temperature range from 700 to 800 degrees C. It was shown that the LSC interlayer improves SOFC power density. Our results demonstrate that magnetron sputtering provides a low-temperature synthesis route for realizing thin LSC films for intermediate-temperature SOFCs.