This grant provides funding for the development of manufacturing methods of mixed ionic-electronic conducting thin film cathodes for intermediate temperature (IT) solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) based on novel additive deposition and patterning techniques. The major advantage of the proposed method is that variable and precisely-controllable cathode material composition and morphology can be rapidly produced and studied. In particular, the researchers will attempt to produce La1-xSrxFe1-yCoyO3 (LSCF) cathodes with various composition (stoichiometry) and morphologies by magnetron sputtering with multiple targets. This enables systematic study of electrochemical activities of LSCF based cathode surfaces and interfaces by a variety of in situ and ex situ methods such as Raman spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Hence it allows the selection of an optimal LSCF thin film cathode for IT SOFC.
If successful, the results of this research will lead to a low-cost and rapid manufacturing method for high performance IT SOFCs, which can generate electricity from a variety of fuels, such as hydrogen, methane, or carbon monoxide in an efficient and environmental friendly fashion. The proposed research can potentially transform the current manufacturing practice of SOFCs and accelerate its commercialization process. The multi-faceted research program involves tasks in advanced manufacturing, materials characterization, electrochemical and mechanical testing and modeling. It provides an ideal setting for both materials science and mechanical engineering students to actively participate in project-based and hands-on research and learning. A diverse group of graduate and undergraduate students from the University of Central Florida and the University of South Carolina will have the opportunity to participate in various integrated team research and educational activities afforded by this program.
is in development of robust and reliable manufacturing technology, which include lamination and tape casting of layered Y2O3-ZrO2/Sc2O3-CeO2-ZrO2/Y2O3-ZrO2 electrolytes, spin coating of intermediate Gd2O3-CeO2 layer on the cathode side of electrolytes, ink preparation and screen printing of porous anode and cathodes with presureless sintering of single cells at different sintering temperature in air. The electrochemical performance of the single cells has been investigated, where I-V plots and impedance spectra of the cells have been measured. The pore structure and microstructure of the sintered cells and their effect on the cells’ electrochemical performance have been carefully investigated and the role of the La, Sr, Fe, Co, Zr, Gd, Ce, Y, O as well as Al, Mg, and Si elements distribution and segregation was elucidated. Both graduate and undergraduate students participated in the research activities, produced research results and presented their findings at the national and international conferences. One graduate student was awarded a prestigious Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship funded by the US Department of Energy to perform electrochemical testing of the SOFC single cells that he produced at UCF. Another graduate student was awarded a six month international internship at Swiss National Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Switzerland to measure the mechanical properties and durability of both layered electrolytes and single whole SOFC cells.
