Substrate-dependent growth of nanothin film solid oxide fuel cells toward cost-effective nanostructuring

Nanothin and pinhole-free electrolyte-embedded solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) on nanothin bottom electrode catalyst-coated anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) substrates with 20 nm and 80 nm-sized nanopores are morphologically and electrochemically characterized to identify the substrate-dependent nanostructuring effects. Reliable electrolytes were fabricated through the application of a protective layer deposited by atomic layer deposition, whose microstructural distortion reduced as the electrolyte became thinner. At 450°C, the SOFC on the AAO substrate with 80 nm nanopores generated a higher peak power density by approximately 22% than the SOFC on the AAO substrate with 20 nm nanopores when the electrolyte and the bottom electrode catalyst are as thin as 300 nm and 50 nm, respectively.