Thin film ceramic proton conducting electrolyte
View Patent ↗A thin film ceramic proton conducting electrolyte assembly ( 10 ) is provided having a includes a nanoporous, copper supporting substrate ( 11 ), a temporary substrate pore filler material ( 12 ), and a ceramic electrolyte layer ( 13 ) positioned upon the substrate ( 11 ). The ceramic electrolyte layer may be made of a yttrium doped strontium zirconate. To produce the electrolyte the substrate pores ( 14 ) are filled with the pore filler material to provide a smooth surface upon which the electrolyte layer is deposited. The filler material is then removed from the pores and the substrate and electrolyte layer are annealed.
1. A method of manufacturing a proton only conducting electrolyte comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a nanoporous supporting substrate;
(b) filling the nanopores of the nanoporous supporting substrate with a filler material; and
(c) depositing a proton only conducting ceramic layer upon the filled nanoporous supporting substrate.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of (d) removing the filler material from the nanopores.
3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of (e) annealing the substrate and ceramic layer at a temperature of between 550 to 800 degrees Celsius for one hour.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) the nanoporous supporting substrate is a nanoporous metal layer.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the nanoporous metal layer is a nanoporous copper layer.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) the ceramic layer is a doped strontium zirconate.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the strontium zirconate is doped with a dopant selected from the group consisting of yttrium, indium, neodymium, and scandium.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein step (a) the nanoporous supporting substrate is a nanoporous metal layer.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the nanoporous metal layer is a nanoporous copper layer.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the ceramic layer is a ceramic selected from the group consisting of strontium zirconate, barium zirconate, strontium cerate, and barium cerate.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein said ceramic layer has an average pore size of less than or equal to 2 microns.