Fabrication of anode supported thick film ceria electrolytes for IT-SOFCs

Anode supported thick film ceria electrolyte unit cells were fabricated using a colloidal dip coating method for IT-SOFCs. Pre-sintering temperature of the anode substrate and the final sintering temperature were found to be the primary parameters determining the density of the film. With Ni-Ce0.89Gd0.11O2-delta cermet anode, La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3 cathode and 15 mu m Ce0.89Gd0.11O2-delta electrolyte, the cells were tested in a fuel cell configuration with air at the cathode and moist H-2 at the anode. At 650 degrees C, the cell indicated a maximum power density of similar to 0.27 W/cm(2) at a current density of 0.62 A/cm(2). Cell performance was compared with oxygen at the cathode and the cell indicated a maximum power density of similar to 0.50 W/cm(2) at 1.14 A/cm(2), 650 degrees C. Activation energy for the area specific resistance (ASR) of the cell suggests that with air at cathode, the cell performance was limited by gaseous diffusion at cathode and with oxygen at cathode, by oxygen ion transport across the electrolyte.