Doping-level control of atomic layer deposited YSZ surface layer on platinum catalyst. Issue 8 (15th April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yang, Byung Chan; Kye, Seunghyeon; Go, Dohyun; Oh, Seongkook; Kim, Hyong June; Shin, Jeong Woo; Cho, Gu Young; An, Jihwan
• Is Part Of: Ceramics international. Volume 47:Issue 8(2021)
• Page Start: 11372
• Page End: 11378
• Publication Date: 2021-04-15
• Subjects: Yttria-stabilized zirconia -- Doping level -- Atomic layer deposition -- Solid oxide fuel cell -- Cathodic overlayer; Ceramics -- Periodicals; Céramique industrielle -- Périodiques; Ceramics; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 666
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2020.12.263
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0272-8842

Abstract

Abstract: While local surface composition of fuel cell electrode is critical to performance, precise control of the surface composition at the thickness scale of <10 nm has been challenging. Here we report on the fabrication of ultra-thin (5 nm-thick) yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) surface layers whose compositions are precisely controlled by using atomic layer deposition (ALD), and their applications to cathodic overlayers of low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells. Exchange current density was improved by 80% by optimizing the doping level (16 mol%) of YSZ overlayer. Activation resistance of the cell with 16 mol% doped ALD YSZ overlayer decreased by 27%, and the cell performance improved by 70% compared to the cell without the overlayer. Such improvement was attributed to the ability of the doping-controlled ALD YSZ overlayer to locally improve O 2− incorporation, which is the rate-determining step of oxygen reduction reaction, at the cathode surface.