Horizontally graded structures for electrochemical and electronic devices

A method comprising the steps of:

• providing a support layer (1);
• applying a first layer (2) on top of said support layer (1);
• applying a second porous layer (3) such that the second layer (3) is at least partially in contact with the support layer (1);
• applying a third to tenth layer such that the each of said layers is at least partially in contact with the support layer (1);
• optionally applying at least one further layer such that the further layer is at least partially in contact with the support layer (1);
• laminating the multilayer structure;
• and
• producing a solid oxide fuel cell comprising the multilayer structure,
• wherein the application of each of the layers is carried out by tape-casting or screen printing;
• and
• wherein the first layer (2), the second layer (3), the third to tenth layers, and the optional at least one further layer are arranged such that the layer impurity level, abrasiveness, mechanical strength, and/or material cost horizontally to the support layer (1) forms a gradient over the total layer area.

Apparatus comprising:

• a solid oxide fuel cell comprising a graded multilayer structure, the graded multilayer structure comprising a support layer (1) and at least two layers (2, 3) forming a graded layer,
• wherein each of the at least two layers (2, 3) is at least partially in contact with the support layer (1),
• wherein the at least two layers (2, 3) differ from each other in at least one property selected from layer impurity level, abrasiveness, mechanical strength, and material cost,
• wherein the at least two layers (2, 3) are arranged such that the layer impurity level, abrasiveness, mechanical strength, and/or material cost horizontally to the support layer (1) forms a gradient over the total layer area, and
• wherein the overall thickness of the graded layer comprising the at least two layers (2, 3) is from 5 μm to 200 μm.

A method comprising the steps of:

• providing a support layer (1);
• applying a first layer (2) on top of said support layer (1);
• applying a second porous layer (3) such that the second layer (3) is at least partially in contact with the support layer (1);
• optionally applying at least one further layer such that the further layer is at least partially in contact with the support layer (1);
• laminating the multilayer structure;
• and
• producing a solid oxide fuel cell comprising the multilayer structure,
• wherein the application of each of the layers is carried out by tape-casting or screen printing;
• wherein the first layer (2), the second layer (3), and the optional at least one further layer are arranged such that the layer impurity level, abrasiveness, mechanical strength, and/or material cost horizontally to the support layer (1) forms a gradient over the total layer area;
• and
• wherein the overall thickness of the graded layer comprising the at least two layers (2, 3) is from 5 μm to 200 μm.