Sintering-resistant platinum electrode achieved through atomic layer deposition for thin-film solid oxide fuel cells

Thin-film solid oxide fuel cells (TF-SOFCs) using a dense and thin electrolyte have attracted much attention as a promising portable power generator because they can lower the operating temperature of devices, which is a key issue related to conventional SOFCs, to below 500 °C and are compatible with several microfabrication processes. Highly porous interconnected Pt thin films are now widely used as oxygen electrodes, but their poor thermal stability seriously hampers the sustainable operation of TF-SOFCs. Here, we demonstrate how Al2O3 layers coated through atomic layer deposition effectively suppress the degradation of nanoporous Pt thin-film electrodes. Although Al2O3 is an electrical insulator, the selection of an appropriate overcoat thickness ensures stable electrochemical reaction sites of the Pt electrode at high temperatures even without serious current collection or gas flow issues. As a result, a 3.6-nm-thick Al2O3 layer maintains the high specific surface area morphology of Pt thin films at 450 °C and improves the electrode activity by more than twofold compared to an uncoated sample. These results suggest that a simple and scalable coating strategy enables the implementation of TF-SOFCs with ideal performance and durability outcomes.