Characterization of Self-Sealed Metal Supported SOFCs with the Very Low Pressure Plasma Sprayed ScSZ Electrolyte

Plasma spraying can be an attractive method to fabricate coatings directly without sintering and shrinkage. However, how to prepare high conductivity electrolyte is still a challenge for plasma spraying method on account of limited interlayer bond rate. In this study, a self-sealed metal supported SOFC was designed using argon arc welding to connect the substrate and interconnector. Electrolyte was deposited by very low pressure plasma spraying method as sealer and ions conductor. To investigate the microstructure of ScSZ, the spraying distance of electrolyte was set to 150,250,350 mm. Cell based on very low pressure plasma sprayed ScSZ membranes shows a maximum output power density of 1125 mW•cm-2 at 750 oC. The ohmic resistance of whole cell is 0.10 Ω•cm2 and the total resistance of whole cell is 0.15 Ω•cm2, suggesting that very low-pressure plasma spraying is a promising approach for manufacturing of high-performance MS-SOFCs.