Analysis of ceramic layers for solid oxide fuel cells by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy

Abstract

Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) was used for the direct analysis of ceramic layers [La_0.65Sr_0.3MnO₃ and yttria-stabilized ZrO₂(YSZ)] forming parts of solid oxide fuel cells. For the quantitative determination of trace element concentrations calibration was performed with matrix-matched synthetic laboratory standards, prepared specially for these ceramic materials. With a few exceptions the regression coefficients of the calibration curves were better than 0.995 (n= 15). The detection limits for most elements are in the range 0.1–2 µg g^–1 in La_0.65Sr_0.3MnO₃ and YSZ. Investigations on ceramics, doped with trace elements with concentrations of some 100 µg g^–1, showed lower concentrations of the elements than were added, owing to the sintering process at temperatures of 1400 °C. In non-doped YSZ layers different elements were determined at concentrations from sub-µg g^–1 to hundreds of µg g^–1. The results were found to be in good agreement with those obtained by other methods (ICP-MS and radiofrequency glow discharge mass spectrometry).