摘要 |
A ceramic electrolyte is provided. The ceramic electrolyte has a microstructure, which comprises at least a first region comprising a plurality of microcracks having a first average microcrack length and a first average microcrack width, and a second region comprising a second average microcrack length and a second average microcrack width. The microstructure satisfies the criteria of (a) the first average microcrack length being different from the second average microcrack length; or (b) the first average microcrack width being different from the second average microcrack width. A solid oxide fuel cell comprising a ceramic electrolyte having such a microstructure is provided. A method of making a ceramic electrolyte is also described. The method includes the steps of: providing a ceramic electrolyte comprising a plurality of nano-dimensional microcracks; and closing a number of the nano-dimensional microcracks preferentially from one surface of the ceramic electrolyte, such that the ceramic electrolyte has at least one hermetic region and one compliant region.
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