Electrophoretic deposition of dense BaCe_0.9Y_0.1O_3-x electrolyte thick-films on Ni-based anodes for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells

Proton conducting BaCe_0.9Y_0.1O_3-x (BCY10) thick films are deposited on cermet anodes made of nickel-yttrium doped barium cerate using electrophoretic deposition (EPD) technique. BCY10 powders are prepared by the citrate-nitrate auto-combustion method and the cermet anodes are prepared by the evaporation and decomposition solution and suspension method. The EPD parameters are optimized and the deposition time is varied between 1 and 5 min to obtain films with different thicknesses. The anode substrates and electrolyte films are co-sintered at 1550 °C for 2 h to obtain a dense electrolyte film keeping a suitable porosity in the anode, with a single heating treatment. The samples are characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and energy dispersion spectroscopy (EDS). A prototype fuel cell is prepared depositing a composite La_0.8Sr_0.2Co_0.8Fe_0.2O ₃ (LSCF)-BaCe_0.9Yb_0.1O_3-δ (10YbBC) cathode on the co-sintered half cell. Fuel cell tests that are performed at 650 °C on the prototype single cells show a maximum power density of 174 mW cm^-2.