Grain-Controlled Gadolinia-Doped Ceria (GDC) Functional Layer for Interface Reaction Enhanced Low-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells.

In this Research Article, gadolinia-doped ceria (GDC), which is a highly catalyzed oxide ionic conductor, was explored to further improve oxygen surface reaction rates using a grain-controlled layer (GCL) concept. Typically, GDC materials have been used as a cathode functional layer by coating the GDC between the electrode and electrolyte to accelerate the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). To further improve the oxygen surface kinetics of the GDC cathodic layer, we modified the grain boundary density and crystallinity developed in the GDC layer by adjusting RF power conditions during the sputtering process. This approach revealed that engineered nanograins of GDC thin films directly affected ORR kinetics by catalyzing the oxygen surface reaction rate, significantly enhancing the fuel cell performance. Using this innovative concept, the fuel cells fabricated with a GDC GCL demonstrated a peak power density of 240 mW/cm2 at 450 °C.

Optimized antireflective silicon nanostructure arrays using nanosphere lithography.

Broadband optical antireflective arrays of sub-wavelength structures were fabricated on silicon substrates using colloidal nanosphere lithography in conjunction with reactive ion etching. The morphology of the nanostructures, including the shape, base diameter and height, was precisely controlled by modifying the conventional process of nanosphere lithography. We investigated their effects on the optical characteristics based on experimentally measured reflectance performance. The Si nanostructure arrays demonstrated optical antireflection performance with an average reflectance of about 1% across the spectral range from 300 to 800 nm, i.e. near-ultraviolet to visible wavelengths. This fabrication method can be used to create a large surface area and offers a promising approach for antireflective applications.