Interfacial Atomic and Electronic Structures of LSM/YSZ Thin Films as Models for SOC Air Electrodes

Solid oxide cells (SOCs) are highly efficient electrochemical devices, yet their high‐temperature operation induces structural instabilities that limit long‐term performance. Thin‐film electrodes provide a model platform to probe such effects due to their well‐defined geometry and chemistry. Here, we combine high‐resolution electron microscopy, synchrotron X‐ray spectroscopy, and density functional theory to investigate the thermal stability of epitaxial lanthanum–strontium manganite (LSM) films on yttria‐stabilized zirconia (YSZ). Comparing ultrathin (5 nm) and thick (200 nm) films under sintering (1150°C) and operating (800°C) conditions, we identify distinct degradation pathways: thick films remain largely stable but form interfacial , while ultrathin films gradually dewet and aggregate, underscoring their instability as model electrodes. Furthermore, we show that the LSM bulk favors the less conductive rhombohedral phase, whereas, at the LSM/YSZ interface, a cubic‐like LSM polymorph with enhanced electronic transport is stabilized, accompanied by oxygen vacancies, Mn enrichment, and cation disorder. These insights provide design principles for stabilizing interfaces to improve the efficiency and durability of SOCs.

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Publication Details

Journal
ChemElectroChem
Published
2026-03-12
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/celc.202500343
Primary Topic
Advancements in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Interfacial Atomic and Electronic Structures of LSM/YSZ Thin Films as Models for SOC Air Electrodes

Hanna Türk, Christoph Scheurer, Vaibhav Vibhu, Thomas Lunkenbein et al.
ChemElectroChem
Advancements in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
article

Interfacial Atomic and Electronic Structures of LSM/YSZ Thin Films as Models for SOC Air Electrodes

Hanna Türk, Christoph Scheurer, Vaibhav Vibhu, Thomas Lunkenbein, P. V. Zeller, F. Frackmann Schmidt, Vladimir Roddatis, Adnan Hammud, Hebatallah Ali, Axel Knop‐Gericke, Xuan Quy Tran, K. C. Reuter, Anton Kaus, Zahra Gheisari, Raoul Blume, Till Frömling, Rüdiger‐A. Eichel, Felix Gunkel, Patricia König
article en

Abstract

Solid oxide cells (SOCs) are highly efficient electrochemical devices, yet their high‐temperature operation induces structural instabilities that limit long‐term performance. Thin‐film electrodes provide a model platform to probe such effects due to their well‐defined geometry and chemistry. Here, we combine high‐resolution electron microscopy, synchrotron X‐ray spectroscopy, and density functional theory to investigate the thermal stability of epitaxial lanthanum–strontium manganite (LSM) films on yttria‐stabilized zirconia (YSZ). Comparing ultrathin (5 nm) and thick (200 nm) films under sintering (1150°C) and operating (800°C) conditions, we identify distinct degradation pathways: thick films remain largely stable but form interfacial , while ultrathin films gradually dewet and aggregate, underscoring their instability as model electrodes. Furthermore, we show that the LSM bulk favors the less conductive rhombohedral phase, whereas, at the LSM/YSZ interface, a cubic‐like LSM polymorph with enhanced electronic transport is stabilized, accompanied by oxygen vacancies, Mn enrichment, and cation disorder. These insights provide design principles for stabilizing interfaces to improve the efficiency and durability of SOCs.

ChemElectroChemVol. 13(6)
Ain Shams University (EG), Forschungszentrum Jülich (DE), Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie (DE), Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society (DE), Ernst Ruska Centre (DE), Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion (DE), Kerntechnische Entsorgung Karlsruhe (Germany) (DE), Institute of Nanotechnology (GB), GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences (DE), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (CH), University of Bayreuth (DE), RWTH Aachen University (DE)
Affordable and clean energy
Openalex Percentile: Top 24%
Advancements in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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