Electrophoretic deposition of ceramic coatings from modified suspensions of microsized powders of doped BaCeO3 and BaCeO3-BaZrO3 proton-conducting electrolytes

This work investigates the influence of molecular iodine introduced as a charging agent into the suspensions based on the BaCe 0.8 Sm 0.19 Cu 0·01 O 3 (BCSCuO), BaCe 0·5 Zr 0·3 Y 0.1 Yb 0.1 O 3-δ (BCZYYbO) and BaCe 0.89 Gd 0.1 Cu 0·01 O 3-δ (BCGCuO) proton-conducting electrolytes at concentrations up to 1.0 g/L on their electrokinetic properties. The peculiarities of changes in zeta potential , pH, conductivity of the suspensions, the thickness and morphology of the coatings depending on the amount of iodine added are determined. It has been established that when the iodine concentration increases to 1 g/L, the electrical charge of the particles and the sign of the zeta potential undergo a reversal. Additionally, there is a natural decrease in the pH value towards the acidic side and a corresponding increase in the suspension conductivity. The research has demonstrated that in the suspension with a high iodine content (1 g/L), cathodic and anodic deposition can occur simultaneously under electrophoretic deposition (EPD) conditions at low voltage values (below 8 V). However, as the voltage increases, only cathodic deposition occurs. Therefore, the impact of altering the type of the EPD is threshold in nature relative to the magnitude of the EPD voltage. It has been shown that in order to practically implement EPD of ceramic coatings from modified suspensions of microsized powders of doped BaCeO 3 and BaCeO 3 –BaZrO 3 proton-conducting electrolytes, it is necessary to select a small amount of added iodine (0.1–0.2 g/L) to initiate a stable deposition process and to ensure continuity and uniformity of the coatings. This article discusses possible mechanisms of zeta potential inversion, electrophoretic mobility, and the EPD nature under conditions of high concentrations of iodide ions in the suspension bulk. The experiments have demonstrated the viability of the EPD process for the formation of a uniform BCSCuO coating (∼10 μm) on a supporting NiO–BCSCuO anode substrate using an iodine-modified suspension. This coating was subsequently sintered into a dense ceramic film at 1450 °C. In addition to the fundamental significance, the study results have implications for the practical use to improve and simplify the thin-film SOFC technology. • Electrokinetic properties of proton-conducting electrolyte suspensions are studied. • The influence of iodine on zeta potential, pH of the suspensions is investigated. • The possible mechanisms of zeta potential inversion and the EPD nature are discussed. • EPD of thin-film doped BaCeO 3 and BaCeO 3 –BaZrO 3 electrolytes is implemented. • Dense BCSCuO film on porous NiO–BCSCuO anode by direct EPD at 1450 °C is obtained.