Synthesis and characterization of electrolyte and electrode material sample for solid oxide fuel cells

The synthesis of electrolytes based on nanopowders of Zr₀.₈₄Y₀.₁₆O₂-δ (YSZ), Zr₀.₈₁Sc₀.₁₉O₂-δ (ScSZ), and Ce₀.₇₃Gd₀.₂₇O₂-δ (GDC) was carried out using laser evaporation. The resulting powders had average particle sizes of 15.5 μm (YSZ), 11.0 μm (ScSZ), and 0.02 μm (GDC), as determined by BET analysis. The specific surface areas of the powders were 65.3 m²/g for YSZ, 97.4 m²/g for ScSZ, and 34.2 m²/g for GDC. Additionally, cathode material powders of La₀.₇Sr₀.₃MnO₃ (LSM) and lanthanum strontium cobalt ferrites (LSCF-2020, LSCF-4020, and LSCF-4080) were synthesized using polymer-salt pyrolysis and solution combustion synthesis methods. The LSM powder exhibited a rhombohedral phase (space group R-3c) with a secondary phase content of ~9 wt.%. The LSCF powders demonstrated a single-phase perovskite structure with a rhombohedral symmetry (space group R-3c). Nickel oxide (NiO) powder for the anode was obtained using the wire explosion method, producing predominantly spherical particles. The phase composition of the synthesized materials was determined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), confirming a single-phase structure for all powders except LSM, which contained ~9 wt.% of a secondary phase. The sintering behavior was studied to determine optimal processing conditions, revealing that the electrolytes reached high densification levels at 1300°C, while the electrodes required sintering at 1100–1150°C. The co-sintering approach was developed for fabricating solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), allowing for controlled morphology of polymer-ceramic films. Electrochemical performance tests demonstrated the long-term stability and functional viability of the fabricated solid oxide fuel cells components.