Preparation of BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.2O3−δ thin membrane based on a novel method-drop coating

• We prepare the proton-conducting electrolyte by the drop coating method.
• The method is simple and obtain electrolyte with high chemical stability.
• We research the appropriate conditions for the preparation method.
• Higher performance for the cell is obtained by adding the anode functional layer.

The thin membrane of a BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.2O3−δ (BYCZ) was fabricated on the porous NiO-BYCZ anode substrate through a novel method-drop coating. The intact cell was assembled with the cathode of La0.7Sr0.3FeO3−δ/BYCZ and tested from 600 to 700 °C with humidified hydrogen (∼3% H2O) as the fuel and the static air as the oxidant. We investigated the influence of different contents of BYCZ in the slurry and different pre-fired temperatures to the open-circuit potential and performance of the prepared cells. The results showed that the cell with 5% (wt) BYCZ in the slurry and pre-fired temperature of 500 °C had the highest open-circuit potential which indicated the densest electrolyte and the highest power density. Double-layer-drop-coating with the anode functional layer was also adopted and improved the cell performance to 377 mW cm−2 at 700 °C.