Desirable performance of intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cell with an anode-supported La0.9Sr0.1Ga0.8Mg0.2O3 − δ electrolyte membrane

An anode-supported La0.9Sr0.1Ga0.8Mg0.2O3 − δ (LSGM) electrolyte membrane is successfully fabricated by simple, cost-effective spin coating process. Nano-sized NiO and Ce0.8Gd0.2O3 − α (GDC) powders derived from precipitation and citric-nitrate process, respectively, are used for anode support. The dense and uniform LSGM membrane of ca. 50 μm in thickness is obtained by sintering at relatively low temperature 1300 °C for 5 h. A single cell based on the as-prepared LSGM electrolyte membrane exhibits desirable high cell performance and generates high output power densities of 760 mW cm−2 at 700 °C and 257 mW cm−2 at 600 °C, respectively, when operated with humidified hydrogen as the fuel and air as the oxidant. The single cell is characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electrochemical AC impedance. The results demonstrate that it is feasible to fabricate dense LSGM membrane for solid oxide fuel cell by this simple, cost-effective and efficient process. In addition, optimized anode microstructure significantly reduces polarization resistance (0.025 Ω cm2 at 700 °C).

Research highlights▶ A dense LSGM membrane was deposited by slurry coating process. ▶ The nano-sized NiO and GDC powders derived from a precipitation method and a citric nitrate process, respectively, were used for the anode support. ▶ The desirable power densities and lower polarization resistance of IT-SOFC based on the dense LSGM membrane demonstrated the success of the process strategy.