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Inexpensive Production of High Density Thin Ceramic Films on Rigid or Porous Substrates

IB-1302

APPLICATIONS OF TECHNOLOGY:

  • Solid oxide fuel cells
  • Electrochemical devices
  • Protective barrier coatings
  • Gas separation membranes
  • Membrane reactors
  • Sensors

ADVANTAGES:

  • Achieves thicknesses between 1 mm and 100 mm without cracking
  • Less expensive than vapor or plasma techniques
  • Films are fully dense and thicker than those produced by alternative methods
  • Substrate may be fired separately from the film to avoid chemical interactions and allow a wider choice of substrate materials
    

ABSTRACT:

Steven Visco, Lutgard DeJonghe, and Craig Jacobson have developed a simple, inexpensive method for producing high density, crack-free, thin ceramic films on rigid or porous substrates. Polycrystalline films with thicknesses between 1m and 100 mm are achieved by compressing a ceramic material onto a pre-fired substrate. The compression increases the green (pre-sintered) density of the ceramic layer(s) and can be achieved using a variety of compaction techniques. The thin film/substrate is then fired to enhance density and reduce porosity. The desired ceramic material can also be applied to a flexible substrate, compacted, then transferred to the final substrate and fired. This allows homogeneous compaction of the thin film which can then be applied to substrates with non-uniform pore structures.

In contrast to the Berkeley process, sol-gel techniques have thickness limitations and are unsuitable for porous substrates, vacuum technologies are slow and expensive, and conventional methods produce films that are porous or crack. The Berkeley Lab process has a wide range of applications, from creating microelectronic-circuit packaging to producing high-temperature solid oxide fuel cells.

STATUS:

  • Issued Patent # 7,163,713. Available for licensing.

REFERENCE NUMBER: IB-1302

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Last updated: 07/02/2010