TiO2 protective coating processed by Atomic Layer Deposition for the improvement of MCFC cathode.

Abstract: One of the main issues for optimizing the molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) is the control of the corrosion and dissolution of the state-of-the-art porous nickel oxide cathode. A protective coating constituted by more stable oxides seems to be the best solution. In this paper, very thin layers of TiO2 (50 and 300 nm) are processed by a sequential CVD technique, Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD), which produces high quality, homogeneous and conformal layers. Structural, morphological and electrochemical behaviors of TiO2-coated samples are tested in a Li2CO3–K2CO3 (62:38 mol%) eutectic melt under a standard cathode atmosphere: CO2/air (70:30 bar%). Ni solubility is determined by ICP-AES. The protective role of TiO2 layers and the consequent decrease in Ni solubility have been clearly evidenced. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]