Performance optimization of LSCF/Gd:CeO$_2$ composite cathodes via single-step inkjet printing infltration
Publication Date
2017-05-01Journal Title
Journal of Applied Electrochemistry
ISSN
0021-891X
Publisher
Springer
Volume
47
Issue
5
Pages
641-651
Language
English
Type
Article
This Version
VoR
Metadata
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Tomov, R., Williams, T., Gao, C., Kumar, R., & Glowacki, B. (2017). Performance optimization of LSCF/Gd:CeO$_2$ composite cathodes via single-step inkjet printing infltration. Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, 47 (5), 641-651. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-017-1066-1
Abstract
The effect of solid oxide fuel cell cathode microstructure modification on its electrochemical activity is investigated. Inkjet printing infiltration was used to develop a nano-decoration pattern on the composite cathode scaffolds. Two types of composite La$_{0.6}$Sr$_{0.4}$Co$_{0.2}$Fe$_{0.8}$O$_{3−δ}$:Ce$_{0.9}$Gd$_{0.1}$O$_{1.9}$ cathodes with different volume ratios (60:40 and 40:60 vol%) were fabricated using inkjet printing of suspension inks. The electrodes were altered by single-step inkjet printing infiltration of ethanol-based Ce$_{0.9}$Gd$_{0.1}$O$_{1.9}$ ink. After heat treatments in air at 550 °C the cathodes’ surfaces were shown to be nano-decorated with Ce$_{0.9}$Gd$_{0.1}$O$_{1.9}$ particles (~20–120 nm in size) dispersed uniformly onto the electrode scaffold. The nano-engineered microstructure enhanced the active triple phase boundary of the electrode and promoted the surface exchange reaction of oxygen. Electrochemical impedance tests conducted on symmetrical cells showed a reduction in the polarization resistance of between 1.3 and 2.9 times. The effect was found to be more pronounced in the 60:40 vol% composite cathodes. Ageing of infiltrated electrodes up to 60 h in air revealed enhanced stability of gadolinium doped ceria nanoparticles decorated electrodes ascribed to the suppression of SrO surface segregation. This work demonstrated that single-step inkjet printing infiltration can produce reproducible performance enhancements and thus offers a cost-effective route for commercial solid oxide fuel cell infiltration processing.
Keywords
inkjet printing, infltration, lanthanum strontium cobaltite ferrite, doped ceria, solid oxide fuel cells
Sponsorship
The authors wish to acknowledge EPSRC Grant—“Tailoring of microstructural evolution in impregnated SOFC electrodes” —for the financial support.
Embargo Lift Date
2100-01-01
Identifiers
External DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-017-1066-1
This record's URL: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/264589
Rights
Attribution 4.0 International, Attribution 4.0 International, Attribution 4.0 International, Attribution 4.0 International