The Effect of a CGO Barrier Layer on the Performance of LSM/YSZ SOFC Cathodes

Strontium-substituted lanthanum manganite/yttria-stabilized zirconia (LSM/YSZ) solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) composite electrodes were fabricated with slurry spraying on both sides on either pure YSZ electrolyte foils or YSZ electrolyte foils with a cerium–gadolinium oxide (CGO) barrier layer made by spin coating. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to evaluate the performance of the LSM/YSZ composite electrodes. It was shown that the CGO barrier layer affects both the performance of the LSM/YSZ composite electrodes and the series resistance of the cells. This indicates that the cathode–electrolyte interface and the barrier layer–electrolyte interface have a large influence on the performance of LSM/YSZ composite electrodes.