(Digital Presentation) Reactive Magnetron Sputtering Deposition of La_1.6Nd_0.4NiO₄ Coating As Cathode for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell

Ln2NiO4 (Ln=La, Pr, Nd, etc.) materials with K2NiF4 structures are interesting materials for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell (IT-SOFC) due to Mixed Ionic and Electronic Conductivity (MIEC) [1-2]. The present work is focused on the elaboration of La1.6Nd0.4NiO4 coating obtained by Reaction Magnetron Sputtering (RMS). This compound is a promising oxygen electrode able to decrease the operating temperature of SOFC. After a presentation of the deposition operating conditions for obtaining the films, the structural and microstructural characterizations of the coatings were, respectively, determined by XRD and SEM. The electrical properties were studied as a function of temperature by the 4-probe method. Electrochemical properties were investigated in a symmetrical cell electrode / YSZ / electrode by complex impedance spectroscopy. Finally, a complete cell composed of a commercial anode, and YSZ electrolyte made by RMS and the cathode of this study was tested under hydrogen and air in single SOFC cell configuration. It appeared that the films are amorphous when processed and that they crystallize after an annealing treatment under air. According to this study, a correlation between crystalline structure, morphology and electrical properties will be presented and its last ones are completed by a thermogravimetry analysis.