La 0.6 Sr 0.4 CoO 3-δ Thin Films Prepared by Pulsed Laser Deposition as Cathodes for Micro-Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Lanthanum-strontium-cobalt oxide (LSC) thin films fabricated by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) can be used as electrodes for micro-solid oxide fuel cells (micro-SOFCs) in the intermediate temperature range of 450-550 °C. The LSC thin films deposited under a high oxygen chamber pressure are nanocrystalline after thermal treatment at 550 °C and have a nanoporous microstructure. The buckling pattern of the free-standing yttria-stabilised-zirconia (YSZ) membrane influences the survival rate of the free-standing LSC|YSZ|LSC cells. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is used to investigate the properties of the LSC/YSZ interface in free-standing quasi-symmetrical LSC|YSZ|LSC membranes. LSC electrodes with a thickness of ~150 nm had an area specific resistance (ASR) of 3.7 Ωcm2 at 550 °C.