Photon-assisted synthesis of ultra-thin yttria-doped zirconia membranes: Structure, variable temperature conductivity and micro-fuel cell devices |
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Authors: | Masaru Tsuchiya Bo-Kuai Lai Alex C Johnson Shriram Ramanathan |
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Affiliation: | aHarvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA |
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Abstract: | We report on the synthesis and functional properties of nanoscale (50 nm) dense Y-doped zirconia (YDZ) electrolyte thin films by photon-assisted oxidation of Zr–Y precursor alloy thin films. Crystalline zirconia films with grain size of 5 nm were successfully grown at room temperature by oxidation under ultra-violet (UV) photon irradiation. Microstructure of the films was characterized by transmission electron microscopy. The electrochemical conductivity of UV grown YDZ electrolytes was investigated over a broad range of temperatures using Pt electrodes as a function of yttria doping concentration. The slightly lower electrical conductivity in UV grown films at intermediate temperature range (400–550 °C) is consistent with previous reports on oxygen defect annihilation under photo-excitation. Micro-fuel cells utilizing such ultra-thin YDZ membranes yielded 12 mW cm−2 power density at 550 °C. The results are of potential relevance in advancing low temperature ultra-thin oxide membrane synthesis for energy applications. |
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Keywords: | Yttria-doped zirconia Ionic conductivity Micro-solid oxide fuel cells Photon-assisted processing Oxide thin films |
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