Low temperature fabrication of nano-structured porous LSM–YSZ composite cathode film by aerosol deposition

▶ We developed a low temperature (≤500 °C) process for fabricating nano structured porous LSM-YSZ composite films. ▶ We examine the microstructure and low-temperature performance of the cathode films. ▶ Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymer powder was used as a pore former to prepare the composite powder aerosol deposition (AD) process. ▶ The deposited LSM-YSZ composite ceramic film maintained good adhesion with the YSZ electrolyte and showed >40% porosity with a particle and pore size of 10∼100 and 100∼200 nm, respectively. ▶ The peak power density of the YSZ electrolyte-based, anode-supported-type cell with the nano-structured LSM-YSZ cathode produced by AD was 140 mW/cm 2 at 600 °C. A low temperature (≤500 °C) process for fabricating nano structured porous LSM–YSZ composite films, ∼35 μm in thickness, for use as a cathode in the low temperature solid oxide fuel cell (LT-SOFC) was developed using a ceramic–polymer composite powder and an aerosol deposition (AD) process. Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymer powder was mixed with LSM and YSZ ceramic powders, as a pore former to prepare the composite powder for AD. The deposited LSM–YSZ composite ceramic film maintained good adhesion with the YSZ electrolyte and showed >40% porosity with a particle and pore size of 10–100 and 100–200 nm, respectively. The peak power density of the YSZ electrolyte-based, anode-supported-type cell with the nano-structured LSM–YSZ cathode produced by AD was 140 mW/cm 2 at 600 °C.