Interface stability of thin, dense CGO film coating on YSZ for solid oxide fuel cells

An electrostatic spray pyrolysis method (ESD) was applied for the preparation of a dense, continuous and crack-free thin film of gadolinia-doped ceria (Ce0.9Gd0.1O2 − δ, CGO) on pure YSZ ((ZrO2)0.92(Y2O3)0.08) substrate for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell (IT-SOFC) applications. ToF-SIMS depth profiles and XRD were performed to characterize the possible interfacial reactivity. No reaction was detected between CGO layer and YSZ substrate after heat treatment at 800 °C for 2 h in air. After heat treatment at 1500 °C during 10 h in air a (YSZ)1 − x(CGO)x solid solution was detected in homogeneous composition at least over 6 μm in thickness. No differences were observed between the impedance spectra of YSZ reference, the CGO/YSZ bi-layer and the solid solution.

► The CGO films are prepared by electrostatic spray deposition on YSZ substrates.
► Interface reactivity was detected by ToF-SIMS and XRD from 1100 °C in air.
► A homogeneous solid solution (YSZ)0.98(CGO)0.02 was characterized at 1500 °C.