Thin Ceria-Based Electrolytes and Composite Sealants for Electrochemical Oxygen Generators

There is a great need for pure oxygen generators for chemical and biological defense. Crystals & Ceramic Technology, Inc., proposes to investigate electromechanical generators with thin (dense) ceria-based electrolytes. The thin ceria-based electrolytes will be deposited on palladium-conductive manganite electrodes supported on porous alumina tubes by organometallic chemical vapor deposition. Furthermore, gold/conductive perovskite-type oxide composite sealants will be used for device fabrication. The electrode, porous support tube, solid electrolytes and sealants have been selected by proper material selection so that the thermal stresses in the device structure are reduced. The electro-chemical oxygen generator is expected to have an operating temperature in the 500-600 deg. C range. Performance of the electrochemical oxygen generators will be characterized by measurements of oxygen flux and determination of the purity of oxygen. The devices will be packaged for use as breathing equipment, and for application to generate pure oxygen from air in sealed enclosures.