A comparison of electrical properties of sputter-deposited electrolyte coatings dedicated to intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells

Solid electrolyte thin films of Yttria-Stabilised Zirconia (YSZ), Gadolinium-Doped Ceria (GDC) and Lanthanum-Molybdenum Oxide (LaMOx) are sputter-deposited or co-sputter-deposited on rotating substrates from metallic targets in reactive argon–oxygen mixtures. Their chemical and structural features are investigated by Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and their morphology is observed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) of brittle-fracture cross sections. Relationships are established with their electrical behaviour determined by means of Complex Impedance Spectroscopy (CIS). It is shown that the activation energy of the different electrolytes is consistent with the literature data after stabilisation of their microstructure by annealing around 800 °C.