Y2O3-STABILIZED ZrO2 AEROGELS PREPARED FROM AN EPOXIDE ASSISTED SOL-GEL SYNTHESIS FOR USE IN SOFC COMPOSITE CATHODES

摘要

The effect of Y2O3-stabilized ZrO2 (YSZ)particle size on composite YSZ -(La0.85Sr0.15)0.98MnO3 (LSM)cathode microstructure and performance was examined.Twonanocrystalline YSZ powders were compared with different particle size and surface areas;acommercial powder with ～100 nm particles and 11 m 2 /g surface area and a synthesized YSZpowder with ～10 nm particles and 124 m 2 /g surface area.The LSM phase of the composite wasthe same in both systems.Anode supported single cells were fabricated and the electrochemicalperformances measured.The cathode microstructures for the high surface area YSZ compositeswere examined as a function of sintering temperature and compared to the lower surface areaYSZ composite cathode sintered at 1150 °C.The larger surface area YSZ was prepared using anovel epoxide initiated sol-gel synthesis,followed by aerogel processing.The aerogels werecharacterized with TEM,SEM,BET surface area analysis,and powder XRD.