Preparation of platinum/yttria-stabilized zirconia and platinum/ceria fuel cell anodes

Research into solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) anodes has concentrated on the selection of appropriate materials but anode microstructure is also important to anode performance. Polarized electrochemical vapour deposition (PEVD) is a technique that allows a thin, ionically conducting ceramic layer to be deposited over a complex metal surface. The coating protects the metal surface from the harsh operating environment and reduces sintering. The ionic conductivity of the coating will expand the triple phase boundary area without interfering with the metal's electrical conductivity.; Yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) deposition using PEVD was studied under various deposition conditions using yttrium chloride (YCl3) and zirconium chloride (ZrCl4) precursors. Preliminary research of cerium (III) chloride (CeCl3) as a precursor for ceria (CeO 2) deposition by this method was also completed. The cells were examined and their anode structures characterized by SEM. Electrochemical performance of the cells was analyzed both before and after the depositions.