A simple and easy one-step fabrication of thin BaZr_0.1Ce_0.7Y_0.2O_3-δ electrolyte membrane for solid oxide fuel cells

A green BaZr_0.1Ce_0.7Y_0.2O_3-d (BZCY) electrolyte layer was deposited on porous anode substrate (BZCY:NiO = 35:65, in weight ratio) by a suspension spray. In this process, the suspension was prepared by directly ball-milling the mixed BaCO₃, CeO₂, ZrO₂ and Y₂O₃ powders in ethanol for 24 h. Then the bi-layers were co-sintered at 1400 °C for 5 h in air to obtain dense and uniform electrolyte membrane in the thickness of 10 µm. With Nd_0.7Sr_0.3MnO_3-d cathode, a fuel cell was assembled. It was tested from 600 °C to 700 °C using humid hydrogen as fuel and air as oxidant. The cell at 700 °C exhibited 1.02 V for open circuit voltage (OCV), 450 mW/cm² for peak output and 0.18 O cm² for electrode polarizations under open circuit conditions, respectively. The results indicate that it is feasible to fabricate thin electrolyte membrane for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) by this simple, cost-effective and efficient technique. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.