Advances in solid oxide fuel cell electrolyte fabrication by pulsed laser deposition

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are promising devices for clean and efficient energy con-version. However, SOFCs require high-quality electrolytes that can transport ions and separate gases. Pulsed laser deposition (PLD) is a physical vapor deposition (PVD) technique that can produce thin and dense films with tailored microstructure and composition. In this review, the advantages of PLD over other techniques are highlighted, such as reducing pinholes, forming columnar electrolyte particles, and creating heterogeneous structures. Different types of electrolytes fabricated by PLD for SOFCs are reviewed, such as oxygen ion conducting and proton conducting electrolytes. The influence factors of PLD in the elec-trolyte deposition process, such as substrate temperature, chamber pressure, and lattice strain, are discussed. The structure, function, and performance of different types of elec-trolytes made by PLD in SOFCs, such as oxygen ion conducting and proton conducting electrolytes are overviewed. We provide a comprehensive overview of PLD technology for SOFC electrolyte fabrication and optimization, and suggest future directions for research. (c) 2023 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.