Growth and microstructure of columnar Y-doped SrZrO3 films deposited on Pt-coated MgO by pulsed laser deposition

Abstract

Direct integration of proton conductor films on Pt-coated substrates opens the way to film-based proton transport devices. Columnar SrZr0.95Y0.05O3−δ (SZY) films with dense microstructure were deposited on Pt-coated MgO(100) substrates at 830 °C by pulsed laser deposition. The optimal window of ambient O2 pressure for good crystallinity of SZY films is from 400 to 600 mTorr. The ambient O2 compresses the plasma plume of SZY and increases the deposition rate. The 10 nm thick Ti adhesion layer on MgO(100) greatly affects the orientation of the sputtered Pt layers. Pt deposited directly on MgO shows a highly (111)-preferred orientation and leads to preferentially oriented SZY films while the addition of a Ti adhesion layer makes Pt show a less preferential orientation that leads to randomly oriented SZY films. The RMS surface roughness of preferentially oriented SZY films is larger than that of randomly oriented SZY films deposited under the same ambient O2 pressure. As the O2 pressure increased, the RMS surface roughness of preferentially oriented SZY films increased, reaching 45.7 nm (2.61% of film thickness) at 600 mTorr. This study revealed the ambient O2 pressure and orientation dependent surface roughness of SZY films grown on Pt-coated MgO substrates, which provides the potential to control the surface microstructure of SZY films for electrochemical applications in film-based hydrogen devices.

Electrochemical Performance of Carbon-Nanotube-Supported Tubular Diamond

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“…14,15 The respective performances for applications can be optimized by the material structures and compositions. 16,17 Diamond materials with high surface areas, porous structure, and good conductivity are highly desirable for various electrochemical applications, which can provide plenty of exposed active sites, fast mass transfer, and rapid electron transfer rates for redox systems, leading to enhanced electrochemical performance.…”