Preparation of dense BaCe0.65Zr0.20Y0.15O3-delta proton conducting electrolyte material by a low cost colloidal spray deposition method

Protonic Ceramic Membrane Fuel Cells (PCMFCs) have recently gained considerable interest due to their advantages, as a decreased operating temperature. These devices are based on proton conducting electrolyte perovskite-type oxide like doped BaCeO3 and BaZrO3. One of the major challenges for these materials is to have high values of conductivity assuring at the same time a suitable chemical stability. In this respect, cerate-zirconate solid solutions represents a possible choice exibiting both high proton conductivity and good chemical and thermal stability over a wide range of fuel cells operating conditions. For the purpose of their commercialization, in this work a colloidal spray deposition method, recently developed for the deposition of dense protonic electrolyte films [1], was used to fabricate PCMFCs. In particular, this study deals with the preparation and the characterization of anode-supported planar PCMFCs based on proton conducting BaCe0.65Zr0.20Y0.15O3-delta (BCZ20Y15) electrolyte. A cost effective and facile in situ reaction method for preparing BCZ20Y15 dense electrolyte films on Ni-BCZ20Y15 porous anode substrates is presented. Dense BCZ20Y15 films, having thickness 10-20 um, were fabricated by a suspension spray process starting from metal oxide precursors. Ni-BCZ20Y15 anodic cermet substrates were prepared by die-pressing a suitable mixture of Ni, starch and BCZ20Y15 powders