Application of vacuum deposition methods to low temperature solid oxide fuel cells

• Main Author: Ng, Yi He
• Other Authors: Su Pei-Chen
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Mechanical engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/64304
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The emphasis of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) research in recent years have been on reducing operating temperatures to improve its overall efficiency. Yttria-Stabilized-Zirconia (YSZ) is a preferred electrolyte option due to its relatively high ionic conductivity in the form of a thin film. In this report, surface morphology and crystallinity behavioral patterns of post-annealed YSZ thin films were investigated. Thin films were first deposited onto silicon substrates via a radio frequency sputtering mechanism. Following which, samples at various thickness were subjected to heat treatment at high temperatures in a furnace. The post-annealed samples were then analyzed for the above mentioned patterns via a series of Section Electron Microscope (SEM) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) tests to determine its overall surface morphology and crystallinity and how it helps in lowering the operating temperature of SOFCs. The results showed there was an increase in the number of reaction sites and ionic conductivity when samples were annealed at high temperatures due to agglomeration of the YSZ thin film.