The Application of Laser Topography in SOFC Development

摘要

Optical, non-contact topography provides a valuable tool for many fields in SOFC development. This comprises the measurement of the bending of cells and cassettes, film stresses, green density and thickness of applied layers, and roughness characterisation. A short overview about possible applications is given with practical examples. Two detailed investigations are presented: The precise thickness measurement of a screen printed cathode layer and the influence of paste parameters (powder conditioning, solid content, binder, and dispersing agent) for typical electrolyte pastes on the green density of the films. In the second study it could be shown that a minimal binder content is required to achieve acceptable green densities. Additional pre-calcination of the powder yielded a large increase of film densities, whereas the use of dispersing agent mainly contributed to a smoother surface.