Ceria-Zirconia Composite Electrolyte for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Ceria-zirconia-ceria sandwich structured composite filmelectrolytes were designed in order to offer high ionic and low electronicconductivity electrolyte films. Calculation of oxygen potential profile inthe composite film electrolyte indicates that a very thin zirconia filmkills the electronic current of ceria without affecting the ionicconductivity. The composite films were successfully prepared by a co-fireprocess. The main problem was the fact that the ceria and zirconia greenfilms had different shrinkage behaviors. Successful co-firing was achievedby controlling the temperature program and amount of binder. De-laminationbetween yttria stabilized zirconia(YSZ) and gadolinia doped ceria(GDC)layers was overcome by the formation of a solid solution phase at theinterface of the two films. The resultant composite films, however, showedpoor electrical conductivity compared with theoretical values. The formationof a solid solution phase can have a negative effect on compositeelectrolytes. Also, the composite film is unsatisfactory in terms ofmechanical strength. This could be due to the lattice expansion in reducingatmospheres, thermal expansion coefficient mismatch, or the intrinsicweakness of the ceria texture.