Application of samaria doped sculptured ceria/La1−xSrxCo1−yFeyO3−δ in cathode of SOFCs at intermediate temperature

Samaria-doped ceria (SDC)/La1−xSrxCo1−yFeyO3−δ (LSCF) and yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ)/Ni were prepared as the cathode and anode of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), respectively, using glancing angle deposition (GLAD) in electron beam physical vapor deposition. Fuel cell current-voltage measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were performed at 600 °C. The investigations of the crystalline structures were examined using X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A fluorite structure of SDC and the rhombohedral phase of the LSCF film were obtained. TEM images show that the diameter of each SDC single-crystalline column was approximately 50 nm. The results of scanning electron microscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy indicate that high-density triple phase boundary (TPB) in the cathode enhances the performance of SOFC.