Inkjet printing additively manufactured multilayer SOFCs using high quality ceramic inks for performance enhancement

In this study, excellent printability of highly stable LSCF and GDC ceramic inks were achieved by optimisation of both formulation and processing parameters. By controlling the organic content and the mass fraction of the water based LSCF ink, single thin cathode layers with smooth surface were prepared. Based on multiple thin layer printing followed by overall sintering, SOFC samples with thick LSCF cathode layers meeting the electrochemical application requirements were additively manufactured. On the other hand, dense GDC interlayers were also successfully prepared with minimised thickness using the as-fabricated high quality GDC ceramic ink. The power densities of the printed cathode layers with thickness of 11.49 mu m and 18.53 mu m on commercial NiO-YSZ/YSZ/GDC half-cells reached 518.1 mW cm(-2) and 617.1 mW cm(-2) at 800 degrees C, respectively. The SOFC with inkjet printing additively manufactured thin GDC layer and thick LSCF cathode layer (11.52 mu m) generated a power density of approximately 752.2 mW cm(-2) at 800 degrees C and 276.6 mW cm(-2) at 650 degrees C, showing a promising enhancement of performance.

Automated summary

The study achieved excellent printability of LSCF and GDC ceramic inks by optimizing formulation and processing parameters, leading to the successful preparation of SOFC samples meeting electrochemical application requirements. The printed cathode layers and dense GDC interlayers showed promising power densities on commercial half-cells, demonstrating significant performance enhancement with inkjet printing.