Pulsed Laser Deposition of La0.6Sr0.4CoO3−δ-Ce0.9Gd0.1O2−δ Nano-Composite and Its Application to Gradient-Structured Thin-film Cathode of SOFC

Abstract

Overcoming the structural instability of a single-phase thin-film-processed cathode by replacing it with a cathode-electrolyte composite thin-film cathode is presented. The effect of the deposition materials change from a single-phase lanthanum strontium cobaltite (LSC) to a LSC-gadolinia-doped ceria (GDC) composite and the influence of the variations of pulsed laser deposition (PLD) parameters on thin-film cathode microstructures are discussed. By introducing the cathode-electrolyte composite concept to the thin-film deposition and employing a gradient cathode structure, the adhesion of the interface between the thin-film cathode and the electrolyte could be enhanced and as a result, much improved stability of high-temperature performance and structure of the thin-film-processed cathode could be obtained.