Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) has emerged as a promising technique for fabricating thin films that enhance the performance of solid oxide fuel cells and solid oxide electrolysis cells. ALD allows for precise control over film thickness and composition at the atomic level, resulting in uniform and dense thin films. These characteristics enable the deposition of thin, homogeneous layers of various materials onto the porous electrode surfaces of solid oxide cells, thereby increasing electrochemical activity and reducing activation losses. Additionally, thin-film electrolytes produced through ALD can achieve high ionic conductivity and low ohmic losses, facilitating a reduction in the operating temperature of solid oxide cells. This review summarizes recent research trends in applying ALD technology to the fuel electrode, air electrode, and electrolyte of solid oxide cells and discusses design strategies aimed at improving efficiency and long-term stability.

In this study, we introduce a novel flash light sintering (FLS) method to address the issue of secondary phase formation in conventional high-temperature thermal sintering processes. The microstructure and cross section of the Lanthanum strontium cobalt (LSC) air electrode were analyzed using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The presence of secondary phases was evaluated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) in SEM. Electrochemical performance was assessed using NiO-YSZ anode-supported LSC cathode cells at 750oC. The maximum power density of the thermally sintered LSC cathode at 900oC was 272.4 mW/cm², while the flash light sintered LSC cathode by 18.5 J/cm² achieved 2,222 mW/cm². These results demonstrate that the flash light sintering process can effectively prevent secondary phase formation and successfully sinter the electrode, thereby enhancing the performance and reliability of SOFCs.