Direct Deposition of Dense YSZ/Ni-YSZ Thin-Film Bilayers on Porous Anode-Supported Cells with High Performance and Stability

We present an approach for integrating a thin-film bilayer combination comprising a Ni(O)-YSZ nanocomposite layer and a YSZ thin-film electrolyte prepared using pulsed laser deposition into the architecture of porous Ni-YSZ-supported cells. Achieving a minimum bilayer thickness threshold of ~1.5 µm is found to be critical to achieve a high open circuit voltage value, as well as a significant decrease in the ohmic resistance to ~0.06 Ωcm 2 at 750 °C and increase in maximum power density to 1.83 W/cm 2 . Short-term durability tests up to 45 h at a constant potential of 0.8 V showed stable operation with current densities reaching ~1.7 A/cm 2 . Cells utilizing thin-film bilayers can overcome issues associated degradation in conventionally sintered cells, in terms of maintaining excellent contact with the anode support and significantly suppressing Ni diffusion into the YSZ electrolyte.