Interfacial Evaluation of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Components Fabricated by the Acetylene Spraying Processes

The reliability and stability of the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) depend mainly on two parameters, namely, the component materials and the mutual relationships between them. The perovskite-type oxides such as LaCoO₃, LaMnO₃ and La_1-xSr_XMnO₃ are the prime candidates for air electrode materials for SOFCs, and their possibilities for application have been examined. The problem contains the following two major themes, adhesion of membranes and mutual ionic movements through the interface. In this study, the adhesion between air electrode/electrolyte and the possible high temperature interactions between perovskite-type oxide membranes, fabricated by acetylene flame spraying was investigated. The disc type SOFCs were classified in two groups and tested in air at 1000 °C for 100 hours in two ways, one with, the other without a conducting current. The SOFC cells were analysed by X-ray diffraction, scanning microscopy and electron-probe, to examine the crystalline changes of the oxides and also the reaction products.