Direct Ceramic Inkjet Printing and Infiltration of Functional Coatings for Metal Supported SOFC

Direct Ceramic Inkjet Printing (DCIJP) was applied for fabrication of functional coatings in metal-supported SOFCs. An optimization procedure of the ink formulations and the printing parameters was performed allowing routine production of coatings with thicknesses below 20 µm with an additional benefit of surface defects planarization. Commercial low-cost stainless steel 430L powders were chosen as source materials. The supports sintering procedures was performed in vacuum. The density and open porosity distribution of as-sintered supports were determined by Archimedes' method and optical image analysis. The relation between the sintering conditions and the micro-structural characteristics of the metal supports and the coatings were studied. The influence of the printing parameters on the droplets spreading behaviour was explored. The microstructure and elemental distribution were investigated by Scanning Electron Microscope and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry system. The analyses confirmed that DCIJP can be successfully applied for the production and modification of metal supported SOFCs.