Performance improvement of ceria-based solid oxide fuel cells with yttria-stabilized zirconia as an electronic blocking layer by pulsed laser deposition

A yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) layer (∼2 μm) is fabricated by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique on an Ce0.8Sm0.2O2−δ (SDC) electrolyte film which is prepared by a co-pressing process on a NiO-SDC anode substrate. La0.8Sr02MnO3−δ-YSZ (LSM-YSZ, 70:30 wt.%) cathode is applied onto the SDC/YSZ bilayer electrolytes to form a single cell. The open circuit voltages of the cell increase significantly compared with that of the SDC single electrolyte cell. Preparation of an SDC buffer layer (∼500 nm) on the bilayer electrolytes by PLD method is also studied for reducing the cathode polarization losses with a Sm0.5Sr0.5CoO3−δ-SDC (SSC-SDC, 70:30 wt.%) cathode and preventing the interfacial chemical reaction between YSZ and SSC. The YSZ thin film blocks electrical current leakage in the SDC layer, whereas the SDC buffer layer with the SSC-SDC cathode decreases the cathode polarization losses, which results in the overall enhanced performance.

► Fabricate thin YSZ layer on SDC half-cell with pulsed laser deposition. ► The thin YSZ layer blocks electronic current in SDC layer. ► Preparation of an SDC layer with a nanoscale thickness as a buffer layer. ► SDC buffer layer with SSC cathode improves the electrochemical performance.