YSZ/LSM Composite Cathode Deposited by Solution Precursor Plasma Spraying

In this paper, solution precursor plasma spraying (SPPS) was employed to prepare a porous YSZ/LSM composite cathode for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). The surface morphology and microstructure of the composite cathode deposits were characterized using SEM. The effect of annealing treatment on SPPS YSZ/LSM microstructure was examined. The results showed that the as-sprayed YSZ/LSM deposits presented a porous aggregate with a size range of 10–60 μm when the alcohol was used as the solvent and the spraying distance was 60 mm. The porous aggregate was found to be composed mainly of small particles ranging from 0.2–2 μm, the YSZ/LSM composite cathode showed a finely porous microstructure with grain sizes from micrometers to sub-micrometers. A further annealing treatment at 1050 °C for 2 h in air resulted in a continuous microstructure porous coating with a perovskite phase. The polarization test results demonstrated that the minimum polarizations were 1.26 and 0.083 Ω·cm2 for the composite cathode at 800 and 1000 °C, respectively.