Compatibility of screen-printing technology with micro-hotplate for gas sensor and solid oxide micro fuel cell development

Screen-printing technology is widely used in the field of gas sensors and can also be used to fabricate electrodes for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). The compatibility of this technique with micro-hotplate is studied to produce micro sensors and micro SOFC. For sensors application, development of inks containing precursor of sensing element allows to decrease annealing temperature and to improve adhesion. For SOFC development, we investigated a new type of device named single-chamber fuel cell (SCFC) for which the fuel and the oxygen are mixed and in contact with both the anode and cathode. Such devices were firstly built at a millimeter scale using LSM for cathode, YSZ for electrolyte and Ni-YSZ cermet for anode. Two types of configuration were studied: SCFC developed on YSZ support with screen-printed electrodes, and SCFC entirely manufactured by screen-printing on a inert ceramic substrate made of alumina. Although weak power densities were measured, around 1 mW/cm2, the feasibility of SCFC was confirmed. Then, preliminary results concerning LSM cathode deposition on micro-hotplate were obtained. LSM layers annealed up to 800 °C resist well to temperature cycling but exhibit low conductivity. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.