Improved sintering and electrical properties of La-doped CeO ₂ buffer layer for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells using doped LaGaO ₃ film prepared by screen printing process

Effects of a sintering agent for La-doped ceria (LDC) as a buffer layer to prevent a chemical reaction between Ni in anode and Sr- and Mg-doped lanthanum gallate (LSGM) electrolyte during sintering were studied for improving sintering and electrical properties. Electrochemical performance of anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) using LDC and LSGM films prepared by screen printing and co-sintering (1,350 °C) was also investigated. The prepared cell with dense LDC (ca. 17 μm) and LSGM electrolyte (ca. 60 μm) films showed an open circuit voltage close to the theoretical value of 1.10 V and a high maximum power density (0.831 Wcm ^-2) at 700 °C. The addition of 1 wt.% LSGM to porous LDC buffer layer was effective for improving the sintering density and electrical conductivity, resulting in the high power density due to the decreased internal resistance loss.