Mechanism of Barrier Layer Densification on Performance Enhancement in Solid Oxide Cells

doi:10.15541/jim20260098

Abstract

Abstract: Solid oxide cells (SOCs) are highly efficient clean energy technologies that hold significant promise for energy conversion and hydrogen production. However, detrimental interfacial phase reactions tend to occur during the fabrication and operation of the cell. Particularly in cells composed of a Y_0.16Zr_0.84O_2-_δ (YSZ) electrolyte and Sr-Co-based oxygen electrodes like SrCo_0.8Nb_0.1Ta_0.1O_3-_δ (SCNT), the migration of Sr to the electrolyte interface leads to the formation of high-resistivity phases such as SrZrO₃, which severely limits the cell performance. This study employed magnetron sputtering to deposit an ultrathin and dense Gd_0.1Ce_0.9O_2-_δ (GDC) barrier layer onto the YSZ electrolyte, systematically investigating the effects of processing conditions on its microstructure and performance. The results demonstrate that the optimized magnetron-sputtered GDC barrier layer is only about 0.5 μm thick, exhibits a dense microstructure, and forms a good interfacial bonding. Compared with conventional screen-printing (~5 μm) and spray-coating (~8 μm), the magnetron-sputtered GDC layer is significantly thinner and much denser. The single cell incorporating the magnetron-sputtered GDC barrier layer delivers an excellent peak power density of 1.762 W·cm^-2 at 750 ℃ in fuel cell mode, and achieves a high current density of 1.921 A·cm^-2 at an electrolysis voltage of 1.3 V, significantly superior to cells with screen-printed or spray-coated GDC barrier layers. Electrochemical impedance analysis reveals that the densified GDC barrier layer effectively reduces the interfacial resistance and optimizes oxygen ion transport. This study elucidates the mechanism by which GDC barrier layer densification enhances the performance of SOCs, providing both a theoretical foundation and a technical approach for the design and fabrication of high-performance barrier layers.

Key words: solid oxide cell, barrier layer, magnetron sputtering, strontium segregation, interfacial phase reaction

CLC Number:

TM911

XU Yifei, WANG Ziheng, LI Yongxin, LI Wenhuai, WANG Xixi, ZHOU Chuan, ZHOU Wei. Mechanism of Barrier Layer Densification on Performance Enhancement in Solid Oxide Cells[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, DOI: 10.15541/jim20260098.

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