# US 10,312,540 B2 · Multi-layered layer arrangement for a solid electrolyte

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- Number: US 10,312,540 B2
- Document ID: US10312540B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/892,891
- Filed: 2014-05-20
- Published: 2016-04-28
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2013-05-21
- Assignees: Plansee Composite Materials GmbH; Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH; Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
- Applicants: Plansee Composite Materials GmbH; Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH; Fraunhofer Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forschung E. V.
- Inventors: Markus Haydn; Matthias Ruettinger; Thomas Franco; Sven Uhlenbruck; Thomas Jung; Kai Ortner
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10312540B2

## CPC

- H01M 8/1004: characterised by membrane-electrode assemblies [MEA] (H01M8/12 takes precedence)
- H01M 8/1213: characterised by the electrode/electrolyte combination or the supporting material
- H01M 8/124: characterised by the process of manufacturing or by the material of the electrolyte
- H01M 8/1246: the electrolyte consisting of oxides
- H01M 8/1253: the electrolyte containing zirconium oxide
- H01M 2008/1293: {Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes}
- H01M 2300/0074: Ion conductive at high temperature
- H01M 2300/0077: based on zirconium oxide
- H01M 2300/0094: in the form of layered products, e.g. coatings
- Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells
- Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

A cathode-electrolyte-anode unit for an electrochemical functional device, in particular a high-temperature fuel cell. The unit has a multi-layer solid-state electrolyte arranged between a porous anode and a porous cathode. The solid-state electrolyte is produced by a vapor deposition process and has a sandwich-type structure consisting of at least one first layer with a lower oxygen content, and at least one second layer with a higher oxygen content. The individual layers have substantially the same composition, with the exception of oxygen.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A cathode-electrolyte-anode unit for an electrochemical functional device, the unit comprising:
a porous anode and a porous cathode;
a multi-layered solid electrolyte arranged between said porous anode and said porous cathode;
said solid electrolyte having characteristics of being formed of a layered structure of at least one first layer and at least one second layer;
said at least one second layer having a higher oxygen content than said at least one first layer, and said at least one first layer and said at least one second layer having the same composition except for oxygen;
said at least one first layer being a metallic PVD layer formed of a deposited mixture of metals converted beforehand, by way of a sputtering process, into gas phase; and
said at least one second layer being an oxide-ceramic PVD layer formed of the mixture of metals converted beforehand into the gas phase, or a gaseous mixture, with supply of oxygen or of an oxygen-containing gas as reactive gas or by using a sputtering target consisting of the metal oxide.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The cathode-electrolyte-anode unit according to claim 1, configured for a high-temperature fuel cell.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The cathode-electrolyte-anode unit according to claim 1, wherein said solid electrolyte comprises an alternating layer sequence wherein said at least one first layer with lower oxygen content and said at least one second layer with higher oxygen content are arranged alternately one above another.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The cathode-electrolyte-anode unit according to claim 3, wherein said solid electrolyte is composed of an alternating layer sequence of a total of at least two said first layers with lower oxygen content and at least two said second layers with higher oxygen content.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The cathode-electrolyte-anode unit according to claim 1, wherein said one or more first layers with lower oxygen content and said one or more second layers with higher oxygen content form different crystal structures.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The cathode-electrolyte-anode unit according to claim 1, wherein said one or more first layers with lower oxygen content has or have in each case a layer thickness of between 200 and 800 nm.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The cathode-electrolyte-anode unit according to claim 6, wherein the layer thickness lies between 300 and 500 nm.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The cathode-electrolyte-anode unit according to claim 1, wherein each of said one or more second layers with higher oxygen content has or have in each case a layer thickness of between 200 and 800 nm.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The cathode-electrolyte-anode unit according to claim 1, wherein a layer thickness of said solid electrolyte is between 1 and 10 μm.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The cathode-electrolyte-anode unit according to claim 1 in combination with a metal-substrate-supported fuel cell, an anode-supported fuel cell, or a cathode-supported fuel cell.