Inkjet printing is a rapid prototyping tool that allows users to easily and quickly produce thin-film devices with inks containing desired functional materials. For example, users can use Computer-Aided Design or MS Office software to draw a pattern image and then simply "print" it to create wide, complex thin film devices made of a variety of functional materials. Therefore, inkjet printing can be effectively used to design and prototype thin film-based solid state devices for evaluating the properties of ion-conducting membranes or electrocatalysts.

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are one of the thin film based-solid state ionic devices that can produce electric energy in an eco-friendly way. SOFCs operating at high temperature have the advantages of high cogeneration efficiency and fuel flexibility, but their wide application is limited due to reduced long-term durability and high system cost. Accordingly, many studies have been conducted to develop the thin film-based SOFCs capable of high-performance driving in a low-temperature range.^[1,2] Incorporation of nanoscale-thick ceramic electrolytes into SOFCs can minimize energy loss due to slow ion transport in the low-temperature region and achieve high power output.

In this study, we demonstrated the applicability of inkjet printing to the fabrication of thin-film-based SOFCs containing nanoscale-thick yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolyte.^[3] Our study was performed using a low-price HP inkjet printer and the structural design of thin film-based SOFC was controlled by the MS Office software. A functional ceramic ink including an electrode and an electrolyte material, respectively, was synthesized to have fluidity suitable for printing. A full inkjet-printed SOFC with nanoscale-thick YSZ electrolyte achieved a peak power density of 730 mw/cm² at 650°C and a robust durability of 0.0002V h^-1. It is significant in that economic feasibility and long-term stability are increasingly emerging as important attributes in terms of generalization of SOFC technology.

References

[1] M. Cassir, A. Ringuedé, L. Niinistö, J. Mater. Chem. 2010, 20, 8987.

[2] J. H. Shim, G. D. Han, H. J. Choi, Y. Kim, S. Xu, J. An, Y. B. Kim, T. Graf, T. D. Schladt, T. M. Gür, F. B. Prinz, Int. J. Precis. Eng. Manuf. - Green Technol. 2019, 6, 629.

[3] G. D. Han, K. Bae, E. H. Kang, H. J. Choi, J. H. Shim, ACS Energy Lett. 2020, 5, 1586.