Inkjet Printing of Anode Supported SOFC: Comparison of Slurry Pasted Cathode and Printed Cathode

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) were fabricated by depositing NiO/yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) anode interlayer, YSZ electrolyte layer, and strontium-doped lanthanum manganate (LSM)-YSZ and LSM cathode layers on a NiO―YSZ support using an inkjet printing method with potential for high reproducibility and design flexibility. The cells exhibited a stable open-circuit voltage of 1.1 V and a maximum power density of 430―460 mW/cm 2 at 850°C for hydrogen. For comparison, cells similar in all respects except for utilizing conventional hand-pasted slurry for the cathode layers, were tested and shown to have similar electrochemical performance. Altering the rheological property of the ink and/or the printing process parameter altered the microstructure of printed layers.

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