Two-dimensional gadolinium-doped ceria nanosheets for low temperature sintering of solid oxide fuel cells barrier layer

A novel method for bottom-up synthesis of two-dimensional (2D) gadolinium-doped cerium oxide (CGO) nanosheets is developed and demonstrated as an efficient precursor for interdiffusion barrier layer deposition in solid oxide fuel cells. The CGO is the standard material used as an interlayer in intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells to avoid undesirable reactions between lanthanum strontium cobalt ferrite (LSCF) cathode and yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolyte materials. Herein, the shape-control of the 2D CGO by a low-cost wet-chemical method allowing for the fabrication of fully dense barrier layer of CGO is reported. The high surface coverage promoted by the 2D CGO nanosheets resulted in a thin (∼ 1 µm) and dense interdiffusion barrier layer sintered at 1150 °C preventing the undesirable reaction between oxide ion conducting phases occurring at higher temperatures. The electrochemical properties of solid oxide fuel cells confirmed the CGO nanosheet as an efficient layer for preventing the formation of resistive phases at the electrolyte/cathode interface.