Feasibility of (Ni-GDC/GDC half-cell) Manufactured By Tape Casting and Reactive Magnetron Sputtering Processes

Abstract

Nickel Oxide and Gadolinium Doped Ceria (10% Gd) powders, with -40 mesh and -100 mesh particle size respectively, were mechanically milled in a Turbular-(System Schatz Willy a Bachofeng) up to 24 to 48 hours. Half-cells, 28 mm of diameter, Ni-GDC composite anodes have been fabricated by slurry based tape casting (Elcometer4340 Automatic Film Applicator) method for anode supported solid oxide fuel cell [1]. The chosen ceramic powders in suspension was prepared with the mass ratio of 65:35 for NiO to GDC10 maintained constant. The microstructural evolution of powders (crystallite size) was followed by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The anode porosity was examined by Archimedes method [2]. The pre-sintered anode green tape were coated with a GDC electrolyte film by reactive magnetron sputtering using PEM techniques [3]. An Alcatel SCM650 sputtering chamber was used for synthesizing the dense GDC layers. A Ce-Gd metallic target (90-10% at) was powered by a pinnacle + pulsed current generator from Advanced Energy. The structural, microstructural and morphological features of the half-cells were determined by XRD, SEM and 3D profilometry as deposited and after different annealing treatments. Finally, the EIS measurements were performed on Ni-GDC/GDC half-cells under 60 sccm nitrogen by the means of a Solartron SI 1260 impedance / gain analyzer from 20 MHz to 0.1 Hz with 11 points per decade.