Electrical and stability performance of anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells with strontium- and magnesium-doped lanthanum gallate thin electrolyte

Anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) comprising NiO–samarium-doped ceria (SDC) (Sm0.2Ce0.8O1.9) composite anode, thin tri-layer electrolyte, and La0.6Sr0.4Co0.8Fe0.2O3 (LSCF)–La0.9Sr0.1Ga0.8Mg0.2O3−δ (LSGM) composite cathode were fabricated. The thin tri-layer consisting of an 11-μm thick LSGM electrolyte layer and a 12-μm thick La0.4Ce0.6O1.8 (LDC) layer on each side of the LSGM was prepared by centrifugal casting and co-firing technique. The performance of the cells operated with humidified H2 as fuel and ambient air as oxidant showed a maximum power density of 1.23 W cm−2 at 800 °C. A stability test of about 100 h was carried out and some deterioration of output power was observed, while the open circuit voltage (OCV) kept unchanged. Impedance measurements showed that both the electrolyte ohmic resistance and the electrode polarization increased with time and the latter dominated the degradation.