Preparation of thin bilayer coatings based on lanthanum,nickel, and cerium mixed oxides by electrophoretic deposition

This paper examines the feasibility of using electrophoretic deposition for producing thin films of cathode materials based on lanthanum nickel oxides (with the lanthanum nickelate La₂NiO_{4 + δ} (LNO) as the predominant phase). We have determined the particle size and zeta potential of nonaqueous suspensions of LNO micro- and nanopowders prepared by solid-state reactions, pyrolysis of liquid precursors, and laser evaporation of a target. Using ultrasonic processing, we have obtained stable LNO nanopowder suspensions in acetylacetone and an isopropanol + acetylacetone mixture, which have zeta potentials of +25 and + 38 mV, respectively. Electrophoretic deposition on a dense model cathode has produced thin bilayer coatings from electrode and electrolyte materials (LNO and Се_0.8(Sm_0.75Sr_0.2Ba_0.05)_0.2O_2–δ), which are of interest for solid oxide fuel cell technology.