Solid State Ionics, Vol.76, No.1-2, 103-113, 1995
Ag-Perovskite Cermets for Thin-Film Solid Oxide Fuel-Cell Air-Electrode Applications
Ag-(La0.7Sr0.3)CoO3 (LSC) and Ag-(La0.7Sr0.3)MnO3 (LSM) cermet thin films have been deposited by dc magnetron co-sputtering from Ag and LSC or LSM targets. The cermets have potential applications as high-conductivity air electrode materials for solid-oxide fuel cells operating at low enough temperatures (less than or equal to 750 degrees C) that Ag volatility is not a problem. The resistivity rho at 750 degrees C in air of Ag-LSC films decreased with increasing Ag volume fraction f(Ag), from 1.6 X 10(-2) a cm for pure LSC to 8 X 10(-4) for f(Ag)=0.3 to 1 X 10(-5) Omega cm for pure Ag. The interfacial resistance r(i) of the electrodes on (Y2O3)(0.25)(Bi2O3)(0.75) (YSB) electrolytes was measured using ac impedance spectroscopy over a range of temperatures and oxygen partial pressures. For Ag-LSC on YSB measured at 750 degrees C in air, r(i) decreased from 0.4 for pure LSC to a minimum of 0.3 Omega cm(2) at f(Ag)=0.3, and increased to 1.5 Omega cm(2) for pure Ag. Increasing f(Ag) in Ag-LSM from 0 to 0.3 decreased r(i) from 0.7 to 0.5 Omega cm(2) under these conditions. Ag-LSC electrodes with porous LSC cap layers exhibited no observable Ag segregation, evaporation, or change in interface resistance during 200 h annealing at 750 degrees C.