Improving plasma-sprayed yttria-stabilized zirconia coatings for solid oxide fuel cell electrolytes

摘要

Using a D-optimal design of experiments, the influences of feedstock powder and plasma gases on deposition efficiency, gas tightness, and the electrochemical behavior of vacuum plasma-sprayed yttria-stabilized zirconia for solid oxide fuel cell electrolytes were examined. In-flight particle temperature and velocity, measured by online particle diagnostics, were correlated with plasma and deposit properties. Electrochemical testing of cells was performed to determine the influence of gas tightness and microstructure of electrolyte deposit on cell behavior.