Electrodeposition of ceramics and ceramic composites for fuel cell applications

Cathodic electrodeposition techniques were developed and utilized for deposition of ceramic materials for application in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Ceramic coatings of thickness in the range up to 100 μm were prepared by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) or electrolytic deposition (ELD). Advanced bath compositions were developed for EPD of electrode and electrolyte materials such as yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ), Ce1-xGd xO2-y (CGO) La0.8Sr0.2Ga 0.875Mg0.125O3-x (LSGM), La 0.8Sr0.2Co0.2Fe0.8O3-x (LSCF) and (La0.8Sr0.2)0.98MnO 3-δ (LSM). The use of the common solvent-dispersant-binder system enabled EPD of consecutive layers of different materials. Electrolytic deposition has been utilized for deposition of thin layers of YSZ, CGO, LaCrO3, CaMnO3 and CeO2 for possible applications as fuel cell electrolytes, high temperature protective coatings or barrier layers for prevention of electrode/electrolyte degradation.