Innovative strategy for designing proton conducting ceramic tapes and multilayers for energy applications

Aim of this work is to present, for the first time, the use of Dynamic Mechanical Analysis as a tool to characterize the thermo-mechanical behavior of green tapes defining the process conditions for the subsequent lamination step. This method was applied on tapes of protonic conductors, key-materials for different applications in the energy sector, from gas separation membranes to solid oxide fuel cells and electrolyzers. The pore former (rice starch) content was found to considerably affect the thermomechanical behavior (elastic and storage moduli, elongation to break, viscosity) of the tape and therefore the lamination process. The temperature required for a proper lamination increases from 50 up to 75 degrees C passing from the system without rice starch to the one with the highest pore former amount. This work identifies for the first time an optimal lamination viscosity (10(10) Pa s), regardless the tapes formulation, required for a suitable adhesion among the layers.

Automated summary

This study presents the use of Dynamic Mechanical Analysis to characterize the thermo-mechanical behavior of green tapes, with a focus on the impact of rice starch pore former content on the tape properties and lamination process. It identified an optimal lamination viscosity (10(10) Pa s) required for suitable adhesion among the layers, regardless of the tape formulation. The study also highlighted the increase in temperature required for proper lamination with higher rice starch content in the tapes.