Thin Film Fabrication and Characterization of LSM-YSZ/YSZ Half-Cell for Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell via Screen-Printing

Abstract

Green or renewable energy is important to attain a sustainable low carbon economy and the use of hydrogen has been an alternative solution for the unreliable continuous supply of these energy sources. Solid oxide electrochemical cells is a promising technology for hydrogen generation in which the LSM-YSZ is one of the important component materials for this application. In this study, LSM-YSZ will be deposited on the YSZ substrate via screen-printing. Screen-printing is an easy and simple set-up that offers film quality control. Specifically, the study aimed to deposit a porous LSM-YSZ thin film, as well as to determine the effect of the particle size of the starting powders on the quality of the deposited film. Two synthesis methods for the powders were utilized before screen printing, the solid-state reaction (SSR) ball milling, and the glycine nitrate process (GNP). Results showed that a porous and even thin film with uniform distribution of LSM and YSZ was obtained after the screen printing. Moreover, the GNP powders produced a smaller particle size, a more porous morphology, and a thinner film when screen-printed compared to the SSR ball milled.