Evolution and effect on electrolysis performance of pores in YSZ electrolyte films prepared by screen-printing

Insights into the pore–matrix interactions in solid oxide electrolytes are necessary to develop high-efficiency solid oxide electrolytic cells. The role of particle size in ink and printed electrolyte films was analyzed in this study. This is distinct from solid electrolytes that are dense as a whole but have micropores. Herein, we demonstrate that the organic binder in the ink can significantly reduce the number of closed pores in the electrolyte by taking advantage of its thermal softening characteristics. Electron microscopic analysis provides evidence that the binder controls the pore generation and affects the pore distribution in the electrolyte films. The effect and mechanism of micropores in the electrolyte on the electrochemical process (when used for high-temperature steam electrolysis) are discussed.