Mn1.5Co1.5O4 protective coating on Crofer22APU produced by thermal co-evaporation for SOFCs

A thin Mn1.5Co1.5O4 spinel coating (1 μm) was deposited on Crofer22APU using thermal co-evaporation technique. The electrical conductivity of the Mn1.5Co1.5O4 coating was found to be 115 s/cm at 800 °C in air. Subsequently, a glass ceramic sealant was deposited by slurry on the Mn1.5Co1.5O4 coating. Thermal cycling tests were performed on Crofer22APU/Mn1.5Co1.5O4 and Crofer22APU/Mn1.5Co1.5O4/glass–ceramic samples at 800 °C for 500 h in air. An excellent morphological and thermo-mechanical compatibility both of the glass ceramic sealant with Mn1.5Co1.5O4 and of the Mn1.5Co1.5O4 coating with the Crofer22APU was observed. EDS analysis revealed the presence of Cr in the Mn1.5Co1.5O4 coating while no Cr diffusion into the glass ceramic sealant was observed after thermal cycling.

► Mn1.5Co1.5O4 spinel coating (1 μm) was deposited on Crofer22APU by thermal co-evaporation.
► A glass ceramic sealant was subsequently deposited on the coating.
► sealant/Mn1.5Co1.5O4/Crofer22APU showed excellent compatibility after thermal cycling (800 °C, 500 h).