For high-performance thin-film solid oxide cells (TF-SOCs), a nanostructured anode functional layer (n-AFL) that can prolong the triple-phase boundary (TPB) is crucial, particularly for low-temperature operation. However, the implementation of n-AFL (usually >1 µm in thickness) has critical issues in scale-up and productivity. Here, the study successfully demonstrates a large-area, high-performance TF-SOFC with an n-AFL fabricated via mass-production-compatible reactive magnetron sputtering. The cell with optimized n-AFL by adjusting crucial reactive-sputtering process parameters, i.e., oxygen partial pressure and sputtering power, shows superior performance compared to that of the cell without n-AFL: the reduction both in ohmic and anodic polarization resistances by 63% and 34%, respectively, and the improvement in maximum power density by 89% (0.705 W cm^-2 vs 1.333 W cm^-2) at 650 °C. When employed in large-scale cell (4 × 4 cm²), the TF-SOFC with n-AFL showed 19.4 W at 650 °C.

This study focused on addressing the challenges associated with the incompatibility between sulfide solid electrolytes and Ni-rich cathode active materials (CAMs) in all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries. To resolve these issues, protective layers have been explored for Ni-rich materials. Lithium lanthanum titanate (LLTO), a perovskite-type material, is recognized for its excellent chemical stability and ionic conductivity, which render it a potential protective layer in CAMs. However, traditional methods of achieving the perovskite structure involve temperatures exceeding 700 °C, resulting in challenges such as LLTO agglomeration, secondary phase formation between LLTO and CAM, and cation mixing within the CAM. In this study, a rapid technique known as flash-light sintering (FLS) was employed to fabricate a uniform and pure perovskite protective layer without inducing cation mixing within the CAM. The LLTO-coated LiNi_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1O₂ (NCM811) with FLS treatment demonstrated minimal cation mixing and formed a fully covered dense layer. This resulted in a high initial capacity and effectively addressed the incompatibility issues between the sulfide electrolytes and CAM. The rapid FLS method not only streamlines the fabrication of LLTO-coated NCM811 but also provides opportunities for its broader application to materials that were previously deemed impractical because of high sintering temperatures.

For high-performance thin-film solid oxide cells (TF-SOCs), a nanostructured anode functional layer (n-AFL) that can prolong the triple-phase boundary (TPB) is crucial, particularly for low-temperature operation. However, the implementation of n-AFL (usually >1 µm in thickness) has critical issues in scale-up and productivity. Here, the study successfully demonstrates a large-area, high-performance TF-SOFC with an n-AFL fabricated via mass-production-compatible reactive magnetron sputtering. The cell with optimized n-AFL by adjusting crucial reactive-sputtering process parameters, i.e., oxygen partial pressure and sputtering power, shows superior performance compared to that of the cell without n-AFL: the reduction both in ohmic and anodic polarization resistances by 63% and 34%, respectively, and the improvement in maximum power density by 89% (0.705 W cm^-2 vs 1.333 W cm^-2) at 650 °C. When employed in large-scale cell (4 × 4 cm²), the TF-SOFC with n-AFL showed 19.4 W at 650 °C.

This study focused on addressing the challenges associated with the incompatibility between sulfide solid electrolytes and Ni-rich cathode active materials (CAMs) in all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries. To resolve these issues, protective layers have been explored for Ni-rich materials. Lithium lanthanum titanate (LLTO), a perovskite-type material, is recognized for its excellent chemical stability and ionic conductivity, which render it a potential protective layer in CAMs. However, traditional methods of achieving the perovskite structure involve temperatures exceeding 700 °C, resulting in challenges such as LLTO agglomeration, secondary phase formation between LLTO and CAM, and cation mixing within the CAM. In this study, a rapid technique known as flash-light sintering (FLS) was employed to fabricate a uniform and pure perovskite protective layer without inducing cation mixing within the CAM. The LLTO-coated LiNi_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1O₂ (NCM811) with FLS treatment demonstrated minimal cation mixing and formed a fully covered dense layer. This resulted in a high initial capacity and effectively addressed the incompatibility issues between the sulfide electrolytes and CAM. The rapid FLS method not only streamlines the fabrication of LLTO-coated NCM811 but also provides opportunities for its broader application to materials that were previously deemed impractical because of high sintering temperatures.

Abstract The role of grain boundaries on oxygen surface exchange in an oxide ion conductor is reported. Atomic‐scale characterization of the microstructure and chemical composition near the grain boundaries of gadolinia‐doped ceria (GDC) thin films show the segregation of dopants and oxygen vacancies along the grain boundaries using the energy dispersive spectroscopy in scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM‐EDS). Kelvin probe microscopy is employed to verify the charge distribution near grain boundaries and shows that the grain boundary is positively charged, indicating a high concentration of oxygen vacancies. AC impedance spectroscopy on polycrystalline GDC membranes with thin interfacial layers with different grain boundary densities at the cathodes demonstrated that the cells with higher grain boundary density result in lower electrode impedance and higher exchange current density. These experimental evidences clearly show that grain boundaries on the surface provide preferential reaction sites for facilitated oxygen incorporation into the GDC electrolyte.

We developed a highly dispersed Ru nanocatalyst (∼6 nm) via exsolution on BCZY, enabling high ammonia synthesis at 1 atm. TGA precisely quantified the exsolution degree (>96% at optimal conditions) and clarified that Ru nanoparticle formation proceeds through a strain-limited exsolution mechanism.