Structural and Efficiency Characterization of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells Produced by Atmospheric Plasma Spray

Ceramic materials have been used in a wide range of application. One of these most innovative applications is their use in the performance of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells. This work elucidates about how to perform a complete self-assembled SOFC (supported by electrolyte) using three different layers of ceramic materials. One of the main problems of SOFC production is the high costs of the process. The use of a simple Atmospheric plasma spray (APS) gun to perform all the components of the SOFC could reduce this cost. Anode (YSZ-NiO), Cathode (LSM) and Electrolyte (YSZ) have been performed by APS attaining a SOFC efficient cell with high possibilities for different power applications. Another problem is the three layers assembling and adhesion, the use of gradual transition layers by APS promote an important improvement in the adhesion and assembling of the layers. Structural characterization of the three different ceramic layers was done and correlated with the efficiency of the performed APS-SOFC.