Deposition of nanostructured LSM perovskite thin film on dense YSZ substrate by airbrushed solution combustion (ASC) for application in SOFC cathodes

[EN] To make SOFC high efficiency energy generation devices, thin ceramic films are proposed as their main components. The rate of the oxygen reduction reaction is relevant for the overall performance of the SOFC, hence a lot of attention is given to the cathodes and their interfaces. The airbrushed solution combustion (ASC) method was used to fabricate an LSM thin film on a dense YSZ substrate. A single phase LSM perovskite was obtained with very thin and interconnected porosity, and a small average grain size (55 nm). The nanostructured LSM thin film electrode showed a low total activation energy (1.27 eV) at high temperatures, but a high area specific resistance at 850°C (55 Ω.cm²). The activation energy for the dissociative adsorption and diffusion of oxygen was significantly low (1.27eV), while the charge transfer and oxygen ion migration activation energy at the LSM/YSZ interface (1.28 eV) was closer to those usually reported.
The authors would like to thank Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNpQ) and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) in Brazil and Instituto de Cerámica y Vidrio (ICV) and Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) in Spain.