Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Cathode Research Articles

Influence of electronic transport on electrochemical performance of (Cu,Mn)3O4 solid oxide fuel cell cathodes

Alkaline Earth free spinel oxides provide a potential benefit over Sr-doped perovskite-based materials commonly used as electrodes in high-temperature electrochemical energy conversion devices, e.g., solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Sr-segregation is a known issue leading to performance degradation. In this study, CuxMn3-xO4 (x = 1, 1.2, and 1.5) porous electrodes were examined as SOFC cathodes using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy to investigate the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) kinetics in relation to the material's intrinsic conductivity, the extrinsic electrode structure, and the cell test design. Similar to the electronic conducting (La,Sr)MnO3 SOFC cathodes, the ORR kinetics of CuxMn3-xO4 spinel electrodes was governed by the oxygen adsorption and diffusion at the particle surface as well as the charge transfer at the triple phase boundaries. The overall electrode polarization resistance was highly dependent on contact density with the metallic current collector, active material particle connectivity, electrode thickness, and the intrinsic electronic materials conductivity. We describe the importance of effective electronic charge transport parallel to the electrode surface in maximizing the electrochemically active electrode volume and enhancing electrode performance. We discuss an approach to optimize cell and electrode design with respect to active materials properties. This aspect is critical to ensure reliable evaluation of new materials, since laboratory-scale button-cells typically exhibit a high degree of electrode microstructure (e.g. porosity, thickness) and electrical contact density variation from sample to sample.

CO2-induced reconstruction for ORR-enhanced solid oxide fuel cell cathode

Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) cathode must be highly active and durable for electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Here, we demonstrate a CO2-induced reconstruction strategy to build an oxygen incorporative but robust BaCO3 shell for a self-assembled composite cathode from simple BaFeO3-δ perovskite (noted as re-BF), leading to the enhanced ORR activity, durability, and thermomechanical compatibility. The heterostructure beneath the BaCO3 shell consists of a BaFeO3 phase and a BaFe2O4 phase, of which BaFeO3 sustains the re-BF with good bulk oxygen transportation. The BaFe2O4 phase is stable with low thermal expansion coefficient, serving as a reinforced phase to re-BF for better chemical/morphological integrity. This new re-BF cathode shows good durability and a low area-specific resistance (ASR) of 0.013 Ω cm2, about only one-third of pristine BaFeO3-δ (0.041 Ω cm2) at 650 °C. This method can also be extended to other perovskite materials to develop an active catalyst for SOFC cathode.

Review of SOFC Cathode Performance Enhancement by Surface Modifications: Recent Advances and Future Directions

Cathode materials with high electrochemical catalytic activity, stability, and durability at medium/low temperatures are still critical challenges for the commercialization of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Therefore, various surface modification techniques have been employed to improve the performance of SOFC cathodes. Significant achievements have been made in enhancing the cathode catalytic activity and durability by surface modification, including solution infiltration, the atomic layer deposition technique (ALD), and the one-pot method. Surface modification is considered to be one of the most effective approaches to enhance the catalytic activity and durability of the cathodes with the advantages of low cost and time savings. This review illustrates the fundamental principles, recent progress, advantages, disadvantages, challenges, and prospects of these advanced surface modification technologies. Furthermore, this article provides valuable guidance and potential directions for these surface modification methods toward the commercialization of SOFC technology.

Thermodynamic and economic performance study of SOFC combined cycle system using biomass and LNG coupled with CO2 recovery

The search for more efficient, energy-saving and cleaner methods of energy utilization is a current research focus. In this study, a novel solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) combined cycle system fueled by biomass syngas and natural gas is studied, with carbon capture by using liquefied natural gas (LNG) cold energy. In the proposed system, the exhaust from the cathode and anode outlets of SOFC is split to do work instead of the traditional approach of exhaust mixing, thus achieving CO2 capture using LNG cold energy more efficiently. The system is simulated by Aspen Plus software with embedded Fortran. The energy analysis and exergy analysis of the system are performed. The results indicate that under design conditions, the thermal efficiency, electrical efficiency and exergy efficiency of the system are 60.28 %, 66.20 % and 55.59 %, respectively. The amount of carbon capture purity and the mass flow rate of liquid CO2 are 99.35 % and 54.50 kg/h. The largest exergy loss occurs in heat exchangers, which accounts for 35.63 %. In addition, sensitivity analysis of the system is performed and the variation law of thermodynamic and economic performance with parameters is obtained based on the simulation results. This study not only provides a theoretical basis for subsequent research on the way to improve the efficiency of SOFC combined cycle system, but also provides new ideas for the efficient utilization of biomass combined with natural gas.

(Cu, Fe)3O4 Spinel Coating Thermally Converted from Cu-Fe2O3 Composite on Steel Interconnect Via Electrophoresis-Electroplating

A Cu-Fe2O3 composite coating was deposited on SUS 430 steel via a cost-effective approach of electrophoresis-electroplating for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) interconnects application. Oxidation behavior and oxide scale electrical property of the coated steels corresponding to the SOFC cathode environment were investigated. After oxidation for 5 weeks in air at 800 ℃, the oxide scale exhibits a tri-layer structure including an inner layer of Cr2O3, a middle layer of (Cu, Fe, Cr)3O4 and an outer layer of (Cu, Fe)3O4. The results demonstrate that the (Cu, Fe)3O4 spinel converted from Cu-Fe2O3 composite coating not only significantly suppresses the out-diffusion of Cr and reduces the growth rate of Cr2O3, but also lowers the area specific resistance (ASR) of the oxide scales.

Experimental investigation of fuel starvation on industrial-sized solid oxide fuel cells using segmented cathodes and area specific resistances

Fuel starvation must be detected timely to avoid anode oxidation, especially for industrial-sized Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). In this work, a practical segmented cell measurement method is developed to detect fuel starvation occurring in local regions. For this developed method, the cathode of SOFCs is segmented, and only the voltage signal is measured in the segments. The local current-voltage (I–V) curve per segment is determined using the local voltage and the global I–V curve. Then, area specific resistance (ASR) is calculated and compared among segments to validate the data reliability. Varieties of current density loading rates and fuel flow rates are correspondingly investigated. Furthermore, fuel starvation is estimated using the rapid voltage drop in I–V curves and the rapid ASR increment in I-ASR curves. The results show that the intrinsic ASR increment is a more sensitive and robust criterion to identify the occurrence of fuel starvation than the voltage drop. This work will considerably benefit the progress of fuel starvation avoidance by setting a constant ASR threshold.

The preparation and properties of Mn–Co–O spinel coating for SOFC metallic interconnect

To meet the performance requirements of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) metallic interconnect, the Mn–Co–O spinel coating is prepared on the surface of AISI430 by pack cementation method to reduce the growth kinetics of oxides and inhibit the outward diffusion of Cr. The microstructural characterization shows that a dense, uniform, defect-free spinel coating is successfully fabricated on the surface of AISI430. Under the simulated SOFC cathode environment, the weight gain of coated steel (0.608 mg cm−2) after oxidation at 800 °C for 800 h is significantly lower than that of uncoated (1.586 mg cm−2). In addition, the area specific resistance (ASR) of the coated steel oxidized for 500 h is 17.69 mΩ cm2, much smaller than that of the bare steel, indicating that the oxidation resistance and electrical conductivity of AISI430 are significantly improved by Mn–Co–O spinel coating. Cross-sectional observations of the Mn–Co–O spinel coating are conducted to assess the compatibility of substrate with the adjacent coating and its effectiveness in reducing the growth of the Cr2O3 layer.

F-doped LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2-δ cathodes with enhanced ORR catalytic activity for LT-SOFCs

Developing highly effective catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is crucial to enable the low-temperature operation of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Recent studies have proposed a promising O2-/H+/e- conducting oxide, LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2-δ (LNCA) with good ORR catalytic activity for SOFC cathode uses. Herein, to further optimize the cathode functionality of LNCA, a fluorine anion (F-) doping strategy is applied to develop highly active LNCAF0.1 and LNCAF0.2 cathodes for Sm-doped ceria (SDC) electrolyte-based SOFCs. It is found the successful doping of F- in the oxygen site of LNCA leads to improved oxygen ionic conductivity and facilitated surface exchange and bulk diffusion of oxygen in LNCAF0.1 and LNCAF0.2, which thus gain distinctly promoted ORR catalytic activity at 450–550 °C, as confirmed by the decreased area specific resistances (ASR) and activation energy on symmetrical cells. The as-fabricated two SDC-based SOFCs with LNCAF0.1 and LNCAF0.2 cathodes exhibit peak power densities of 497 and 591 mW cm-2 at 550 °C, respectively, which are higher than that of the cell with LNCA cathode. Furthermore, the single cell with the best-performing LNCAF0.2 cathode demonstrates a good stability for 110 h at 550 °C. The present study thus provides a feasible strategy of F anion doping to promote the ORR catalytic activity of LNCA cathode for developing low-temperature SOFCs.

Reducing the Cobalt Content in SrCo0.95Ti0.05O3-δ-Based Perovskites to Produce Cleaner Cathodes for IT-SOFCs

Recent studies have demonstrated the possibility of stabilizing the cubic or tetragonal perovskite phases in the SrCoO3-δ system at room temperature by partially replacing Co atoms with small amounts of highly charged cations like Ti4+ in SrCo0.95Ti0.05O3-δ. This material gives extraordinary performances as a cathode for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) at intermediate temperatures (800–850 °C). In this work, we have tried to still improve this cathode in a cleaner and low-priced material by reducing its Co content, since Co is a high-cost and toxic element, additionally reducing its thermal expansion coefficient (TEC), to make it more mechanically compatible with the rest of the components of a SOFC. SrCo0.50Fe0.45Ti0.05O3-δ perovskite has been obtained by the citrate method, introducing 45% of Fe in the Co and Ti positions. Its crystalline structure has been studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and neutron powder diffraction (NPD) and has been correlated with mechanical and electrical properties. A chemical compatibility study between SrCo0.50Fe0.45Ti0.05O3-δ and the electrolyte La0.8Sr0.2Ga0.83Mg0.17O3-δ (LSGM) revealed that both materials do not interact at high temperatures. TEC measurements show a linear expansion over the entire temperature range. Finally, the perovskite showed good electrical conductivity and an encouraging power density value of 667 mW/cm2 at 850 °C, which indicate that this material is a promising cathode for SOFCs at intermediate temperatures.

Fe-based double perovskite with Zn doping for enhanced electrochemical performance as intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cell cathode material.

This study aims to investigate the implications of transition-metal Zn doping at the B-site on the crystal structure, average thermal expansion coefficient (TEC), electrocatalytic activity, and electrochemical performance of LaBaFe2O5+δ by preparing LaBaFe2-xZnxO5+δ (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, LBFZx). The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results show that Zn2+ doping does not change the crystal structure, the unit cell volume increases, and the lattice expands. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and mineral titration results show that the oxygen vacancy concentration and Fe4+ content gradually increase with the increase in doping amount. TEC decreases with the increase in Zn2+ doping amount, and the TEC of LBFZ0.2 is 11.4 × 10-6 K-1 at 30-750 °C. The conductivity has the best value of 103 S cm-1 at the doping amount of x = 0.1. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images demonstrate that the electrolyte CGO(Gd0.1Ce0.9O1.95) becomes denser after high-temperature calcination, and the cathode material is well attached to the electrolyte. The electrochemical impedance analysis shows that Zn2+ doping at the B-site can reduce the (Rp) polarization resistance, and the Rp value of the symmetric cell with LaBaFe1.8Zn0.2O5+δ as cathode at 800 °C is 0.014 Ω cm2. The peak power density (PPD) value of the anode-supported single cell is 453 mW cm-2, which shows excellent electrochemical performance.

Improving the durability of cobaltite cathode of solid oxide fuel cells - a review.

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are highly efficient, low-emission, and fuel-flexible energy conversion devices. However, their commercialization has lagged due to the lack of long-term durability. Among several performance degradation mechanisms, cathode degradation and elemental inter-diffusion of the electrolyte and cathode has been identified as the predominant factors. In the most common SOFC systems, a cobalt-based perovskite material is used, for example LSC or LSCF. These cobalt-based materials offer mixed conductivity and higher concentration of oxygen vacancies as compared to LSM at lower operating temperature leading to favorable reduction kinetics. However, the presence of cobalt results in higher cost, higher thermal expansion co-efficient (TEC) mismatch and most importantly leads to rapid degradation. Various elements like strontium, cobalt, cerium, chromium, or zirconium accumulate or deposit at the electrode-electrolyte interface, which results in sluggish reaction kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). These elements react to form secondary phases that have lower ionic and electronic conductivity, cover active reaction sites, and eventually lead to cell and system deterioration. Over the past decade, several studies have focused on preventative and protective measures to prolong SOFC lifetime which includes novel fabrication techniques, introduction of new layers, addition of thin films to block the cation transport. Such efforts to prevent the formation of insulating phases and decomposition of the cathode have resulted in a remarkable improvement in long-term stability. In this review paper, current research on leading mechanisms responsible for the degradation of cobaltite cathode of solid oxide fuel cell has been summarized and durability improvement strategies of cobalt-based SOFC cathodes have been discussed.

Enhanced oxygen reduction reaction of LaSrCoO4–Ce0.9Mn0.1O2 composite cathode for solid oxide fuel cells

The development of high-performance cathodes with low polarization resistance and good tolerance to CO2 are important issues for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). In this work, we synthesized LaSrCoO4–Ce0.9Mn0.1O2 (LSCO4-CMO) composite cathode materials by the citric acid-nitrate method. The composite cathode sintered at 950 °C for 4 h shows large porous morphology and superior electrochemical activity of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Electrochemical properties analysis suggests that LSCO4-35 wt% CMO (L-35C) exhibits the lowest polarization resistance (Rp) at 800 °C and the value of Rp is 0.14 Ω cm2 which is far lower than that of pure LSCO4 (0.77 Ω cm2). It is found that the LSCO4-CMO has unique microstructure and more active sites for ORR. Moreover, the doping of CMO offers more oxygen ions transport channels as the concentration of oxygen vacancies increases. The study of the effect of oxygen partial pressure on Rp reveals that as the temperature rises, the rate of dissociation of oxygen molecules is significantly accelerated, indicating that the charge transfer of oxygen atoms becomes the main rate-limiting step. A high oxygen reduction catalytic activity and excellent CO2 tolerance were demonstrated in L-35C by O2-TPD and CO2-TPD tests, making LSCO4-CMO a potential candidate for SOFC cathode.

Ordered phase transformation and Cu doping effects in room-temperature ferromagnetic Sr3YCo4O10.5+δ.

Sr3YCo4O10.5+δ (314-SYCO), with an unusual ordered structure and a high Curie temperature (Tc ≈ 335K), is attracting increasing attention. Herein, to improve the electrical performance of 314-SYCO, Cu-doped Sr3YCo4-x Cu x O10.5+δ (x = 0-0.8) ceramics were prepared using a solid-state reaction method. Systematic research was conducted on both the ordered phase transformation and the effects of Cu doping on the microstructure, electrical transport characteristics, and magnetic properties. For x = 0-0.4, the (103) and (215) planes were observed and combined with Rietveld refinement results for the X-ray diffraction data, confirming the formation of ordered tetragonal Sr3YCo4-x Cu x O10.5+δ . This phase was formed with a mass gain of ∼0.8% and heat released at ∼1,042°C. With increasing Cu content, the concentration of hole carriers also increased, leading to a substantial reduction in electrical resistivity. The electrical resistivity decreased by 92-99% at 300K. The polycrystalline materials have semiconducting behaviour with a three-dimensional Mott variable-range hopping mechanism. For the magnetic properties, a Hopkinson peak was observed at 319K, and the Tc was approximately 321K for x = 0. The magnetisation and Tc decreased with increasing Cu content, and a G-type antiferromagnetic-to-ferromagnetic phase transition occurred due to the spin state change for some Co3+ ions from high/intermediate spin to low/intermediate spin. These results lay the groundwork for refinement of the sintering procedure and doping parameters to enhance the performance of 314-SYCO in the context of current applications such as microwave absorbers and solid oxide fuel cell cathodes.

High-Entropy Materials in SOFC Technology: Theoretical Foundations for Their Creation, Features of Synthesis, and Recent Achievements.

In this review, recent achievements in the application of high-entropy alloys (HEAs) and high-entropy oxides (HEOs) in the technology of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) are discussed for the first time. The mechanisms of the stabilization of a high-entropy state in such materials, as well as the effect of structural and charge factors on the stability of the resulting homogeneous solid solution are performed. An introduction to the synthesis methods for HEAs and HEOs is given. The review highlights such advantages of high-entropy materials as high strength and the sluggish diffusion of components, which are promising for the use at the elevated temperatures, which are characteristic of SOFCs. Application of the medium- and high-entropy materials in the hydrocarbon-fueled SOFCs as protective layers for interconnectors and as anode components, caused by their high stability, are covered. High-entropy solid electrolytes are discussed in comparison with traditional electrolyte materials in terms of conductivity. High-entropy oxides are considered as prospective cathodes for SOFCs due to their superior electrochemical activity and long-term stability compared with the conventional perovskites. The present review also determines the prioritizing directions in the future development of high-entropy materials as electrolytes and electrodes for SOFCs operating in the intermediate and low temperature ranges.

Metal-oxide nanocomposite catalyst simultaneously boosts the oxygen reduction reactivity and chemical stability of solid oxide fuel cell cathode

Conductive perovskite oxides have received much attention as promising candidates for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) cathodes. However, they show chemical instability due to the segregation of A-site cations on the surface at high temperatures, which causes their performance to degrade. Moreover, the high activation barrier to oxygen reduction reactions makes these materials more difficult to use as electrodes at lower temperatures (less than 700 °C). Herein, by combining two general techniques: nanoparticle infiltration and atomic layer deposition (ALD), we significantly improve both the durability and reactivity of a state-of-the-art perovskite oxide, La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-δ (LSCF). Ag nanocatalysts are dispersed onto an LSCF cathode via wet infiltration, after which they are covered with a thin ZrO2 layer via ALD to prevent the agglomeration of nanocatalysts and the segregation of Sr ions. Accordingly, the Ag/ZrO2 nanocomposite-deposited LSCF cathode shows the electrode resistance of 0.085 Ωcm2 at 650 °C over 200 h, which is, to the best of our knowledge, the near-record level among all nanocatalyst-infiltrated LSCF cathode to date. Our result suggests a new research direction to fully utilize nanocatalysts and perovskite oxides in SOFCs, which can be a shortcut to their commercialization.

A heuristic approach to boost the performance and Cr poisoning tolerance of solid oxide fuel cell cathode by robust multi-doped ceria coating

Herein, highly conductive, robust, and innovative Gd and Pr multi-doped ceria (GPDC) coating, to boost the ORR kinetics and stability against Cr poisoning of the state-of-the-art La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-δ (LSCF) cathode, is reported. The GPDC coating significantly enhanced the ORR kinetics by ameliorating the surface of the LSCF cathode and showed a two-fold increment in the electrochemical performance compared to the cell with a bare LSCF cathode. The SOFC with GPDC-coated LSCF cathode showed outstanding stability at 700 °C for 500 h with a degradation rate of 0.001% h−1 in an accelerated Cr poisoning test which is attributed to the alleviation of the formation in SrCrO4. Both distributions of relaxation time-based analysis and experimental results indicate that the GPDC coating improves the ORR activity and Cr tolerance of the LSCF cathode. This study provides a comprehensive and smart strategy to tailor the surface of SOFC cathode materials to enhance performance and durability.

In-situ segregation of A-site defect (La0.6Sr0.4)0.90Co0.2Fe0.8O3-δ to form a high-performance solid oxide fuel cell cathode material with heterostructure

As a potential cathode material for solid oxide fuel cells, the commercial application of La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-δ (LSCF) has to face the challenges in insufficient oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity, segregation of Sr element, and CO2 poisoning. Therefore, the effect of A-site non-stoichiometry on the electrochemical performance of (LS)1-xCFs (x = −0.05, 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15) from the aspect of microstructure/elemental surface chemical environment evolution is investigated in this paper. The results show that (LS)0.90CF has the best ORR activity and the highest electrochemical performance. The excellent electrochemical performance is attributed to the (LS)0.90CF/Co2FeO4/CoFe2O4-type heterostructure, formed by in-situ segregation induced by A-site defects, which improves the surface oxygen diffusion coefficient and chemical bulk diffusion coefficient of the cathode. At the same time, the A-site defect can effectively inhibit the segregation of Sr element in (LS)0.90CF, thereby improving the tolerance of CO2. At 800 °C, the area-specific resistance (ASR) of (LS)0.90CF (0.023 Ω cm2) is 66.7% lower than that of LSCF (0.069 Ω cm2), and the peak power density (1.57 Wcm−2) is 1.8 times higher than that of LSCF (0.87 Wcm−2). Therefore, perovskite A-site defect-induced B-site segregation to form heterostructures provides an effective strategy for the preparation of high-performance cathode materials.

Nanomaterials with oxygen mobility for catalysts of biofuels transformation into syngas, SOFC and oxygen/hydrogen separation membranes: Design and performance

Modern hydrogen energy technologies include generation of syngas and pure hydrogen from biofuels to be used for green energy production in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). To be economically feasible, these processes require design of stable, efficient and inexpensive catalysts, permselective membranes for hydrogen and oxygen separation as well as SOFC cathode and anode materials. In all cases, such materials should possess a high oxygen mobility. This review presents results of our research devoted to design of materials based on complex oxides with fluorite, perovskite, and spinel structures used in these applications. The key aspect is characterization of their oxygen mobility by unique method of temperature –programmed oxygen heteroexchange in flow reactors and finding its dependence on their composition, real structure/microstructure and surface properties affected by methods of synthesis and elucidated with the help of modern structural, spectroscopic and kinetic methods. Optimized materials were shown to provide stable and efficient performance in catalytic reactors, membranes and solid oxide fuels cells.

Novel CO2-tolerant Co-based double perovskite cathode for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells

For the commercial application of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), CO2-tolerant cathode materials with high electrochemical activity are required. Here, we discuss the performance of double perovskite Pr0.2Sr1.8CoTiO6−δ (P02STC) as a potential cathode material for SOFCs. P02STC has a cubic structure and keeps lattice structure stable in the CO2 atmosphere. The average thermal expansion coefficient is 17.8 × 10–6 K–1 at 30–900 °C in air. The P02STC cathode exhibits good electrochemical performance with a low polarization resistance of 0.080 Ωcm2 at 700 °C. The P02STC cathode shows good structure stability, electrochemical performance stability, and excellent tolerance to CO2 poisoning for the symmetrical cells based on the 350 h stability test in air and the 150 h stability test in O2 containing 5%CO2 at 700 °C. The electrolyte-supported single cell with a P02STC cathode shows a maximum power density of 677 mW cm− 2 at 800 °C. The single cell operates stably for 250 h at a constant current of 0.3 A/cm2 without obvious degrading performance. According to all of the experimental results, the P02STC sample might be a promising candidate cathode for SOFCs.

Flash Light Sintered SOFC Cathode Functional Layer through Electrostatic Spray Deposition

Solid oxide fuel cells(SOFCs), which are attracting attention as an eco-friendly power generation system, are being actively studied due to their fuel flexibility and high efficiency. Since the charge carriers are oxygen ions and have to pass through the solid oxide electrolyte, they require a higher operating temperature (~900 oC) than other fuel cells. To overcome the disadvantages of high-temperature operation, research is being conducted to lower the operating temperature of the SOFCs. In particular, in order to minimize performance degradation even at low operating temperatures, research is being conducted to fabricate cell components as thin films or to apply electrodes with high catalytic activity and large reaction areas.Among the methods of manufacturing thin films, the deposition method using chemical solution deposition(CSD) has the advantage of being cost effective and easily controllable compared to the vacuum deposition method. Electrostatic spray deposition(ESD), one of the CSD deposition methods, is simple to set-up and a variety of compounds can easily be made by controlling the proportions of the precursors. However, a characteristic of the CSD method is that a post heat treatment process is required to obtain desired properties, which consumes a lot of time and cost during the entire process. To solve this problem, processes such as rapid thermal annealing, microwave, and excimer laser ablation are being studied, but these processes have limitations in that they damage the substrate, have a long cooling time, and have a small sintering area. [1, 2] On the other hand, the flash light sintering method using a xenon lamp can perform a post-heat treatment process quickly at room temperature and atmospheric pressure using intense pulsed light, and has the advantage of minimizing damage to the substrate and being applicable to a large area. [3, 4]In this study, the cathode functional layer, which is closely related to the performance of SOFC, was fabricated using the ESD method, and the flash light sintering method was applied for the post-heat treatment process. By applying the flash light sintering method, the heat treatment process, which used to take tens of hours, was shortened to just a few seconds. The sintering behavior of the film produced by flash light sintering was confirmed by comparing the microstructure and crystallinity. In addition, it was confirmed that the film manufactured by flash light sintering worked successfully by comparing the performance with the cell manufactured by the conventional thermal sintering method. Reference [1] R. Bayati et al., "Modification of Properties of Yttria Stabilized Zirconia Epitaxial Thin Films by Excimer Laser Annealing," (in English), Acs Applied Materials & Interfaces, vol. 6, no. 24, pp. 22316-22325, Dec 24 2014.[2] H. S. Hao, L. H. Xu, Y. Huang, X. M. Zhang, and Z. P. Xie, "Kinetics mechanism of microwave sintering in ceramic materials," (in English), Science in China Series E-Technological Sciences, vol. 52, no. 9, pp. 2727-2731, Sep 2009.[3] J. S. Park, D. J. Kim, W. H. Chung, Y. Lim, H. S. Kim, and Y. B. Kim, "Rapid, cool sintering of wet processed yttria-stabilized zirconia ceramic electrolyte thin films," (in English), Scientific Reports, vol. 7, Sep 29 2017.[4] J. S. Park, H. Lee, S. Heo, and Y. B. Kim, "Heater-assisted intense pulsed light irradiation for lanthanum strontium cobaltite thin film electrode fabrication," (in English), Thin Solid Films, vol. 697, Mar 1 2020.