Theoretical and Experimental Investigation of Surface Resistivity of Yttrium Stabilized Zirconium as a Thin Film

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells are devices that use electrochemical reactions to convert chemical energy from fuel to electricity. In comparison with coal power plants, a SOFC produces a higher electrical conversion efficiency. However, at higher temperatures (1000°C) it creates a lower ionic conductivity, which limit the SOFC. When lowering the temperature, the ohmic resistance increases. In our research, a YSZ layer will be produced from a fine dimple grain structure allowing high flow of oxygen mobility. This mobility increases ionic conductivity and decrease ohmic loss. The goal of our research is first using computational methods to determine the surface resistivity for the simulated YSZ structures and then use these theoretical results to optimize the experimental film deposition parameters that will lead to minimum surface resistivity in these films YSZ thin film synthesis using pulsed laser deposition leads to minimize ohmic resistance of the films at optimum film thickness. We will use Zirconium, Sapphire and Silicon substrates for the YSZ films, and compare the properties of the YSZ layer. The thin films will be characterized through electrical measurements such as 4-point probe resistivity measurements as well as SEM, SIMS, and XPS for the structural and compositional characterization.