Novel structured gadolinium doped ceria based electrolytes for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells

Novel three-layered intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) electrolytes based on gadolinium doped ceria (GDC) are developed to suppress the electronic conductivity of GDC, to improve the mechanical properties of the cell and to minimize power loss due to mixed conductive nature of GDC. Three different electrolytes are fabricated by sandwiching thin YSZ, ScSZ and ScCeSZ between two relatively thick GDC layers. An electrolyte composed of pure GDC is also manufactured for comparison. NiO/GDC and LSCF/GDC electrodes are then coated on the electrolytes by a screen printing route. SEM results show that it is possible to obtain dense and crack free thin layers of YSZ, ScSZ and ScCeSZ between two GDC layers without delamination. Performance measurements indicate that interlayered thin electrolytes act as an electronic conduction barrier and improve open circuit voltages (OCVs) of GDC based cells.

► Novel three-layered intermediate temperature SOFC electrolytes based on GDC. ► Thin YSZ, ScSZ and ScCeSZ interlayers as an electronic conduction barrier. ► Improved open circuit potential values are obtained from sandwiched cells. ► ScCeSZ interlayered electrolyte can be employed instead of pure GDC electrolyte.