Single step anode-supported solid oxide electrolyzer cell

In this study the possibility of obtaining an oxygen-electrode supported solid oxide electrolyzer cell (SOEC) constituted by La0.8Sr0.2MnO3--Ce0.8Gd0.2O2- (LSM-GDC) porous anode, GDC dense electrolyte and NiO-GDC porous cathode in a single thermal step (included the formation of the perovskitic anodic phase) was investigated. The cell was produced depositing the electrolyte and anode layers directly on a green tape containing a mixture of precursors of the perovskitic phase and GDC. The porosity of the supporting anode was obtained exploiting the decomposition of the LSM precursors during a single thermal treatment that assures the perovskitic phase formation and the consolidation of the oxygen electrode supported cell with the desired porous/dense/porous architecture. The possibility of obtaining the same planar configuration using GDC as barrier layer and YSZ as electrolyte has been evaluated. This approach allows the production in just one thermal treatment of a perfectly planar 5×5 cm2 complete SOEC with suitable microstructure.