Microstructure and Electrochemical Properties of La0.8Sr0.2Ga0.8Mg0.2O3 Thin Film Deposited by Vacuum Cold Spray for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Abstract

Doped lanthanum gallate (La0.8Sr0.2Ga0.8Mg0.2O3, LSGM) is considered as a promising electrolyte material for the intermediate temperature-solid oxide fuel cell (IT-SOFC), due to its high ionic conductivity at 600~800 °C. However, the common methods to fabricate the LSGM electrolyte (e.g., solid phase sintering) often lose their advantages owing to the depletion of Ga and the interfacial reaction between the LSGM and electrodes. Vacuum cold spray (VCS) is an emerging method to fabricate thin (﹤20 μm) and dense ceramic electrolyte membrane. In the present study, the LSGM electrolyte layer with a thickness of ~10 μm is prepared by VCS system assisted with in-situ particle heating approach (25~400 °C). The coating density and the ionic conductivities were increased with heating temperature. The results showed that VCS is a promising method to prepare the electrolyte film applied in the IT-SOFC.