Fabrication and characterization of anode-supported dense BaZr0.8Y0.2O3 − δ electrolyte membranes by a dip-coating process

Dense BaZr0.8Y0.2O3 − δ (BZY) thin membranes are successfully fabricated on porous NiO-BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.2O3 − δ (NiO-BZCY) anode substrates by a dip-coating process after sintered at 1450 °C. The NiO-BZCY anode substrates are prepared by phase inversion method based on in-situ reaction, showing a special asymmetrical structure with a porous finger-like layer and a sponge-like layer. Single cells with Sm0.5Sr0.5CoO3 − δ–Ce0.8Sm0.2O2 − δ (SSC–SDC) as cathodes are assembled and tested. The open circuit voltages (OCVs) of a cell with a 25-μm-thick BZY membrane are 0.95, 0.97, and 1.01 V at 650, 600, and 550 °C, respectively, indicating that the BZY electrolyte membrane is sufficiently dense. Meanwhile, the corresponding maximum power densities of the cell are 70, 55, and 34 mW cm− 2. The results demonstrated that dip-coating process is an effective method for fabricating dense BZY electrolyte membranes.

► Dense BZY electrolyte membrane has been firstly fabricated by a dip-coating process.
► Phase inversion method based on in-situ reaction was used to prepare NiO-BZCY anode.
► NiO-BZCY anode substrates have a novel asymmetric-structure.