Inkjet printing of multiple Ce_0.8Gd_0.2O₂ buffer layers on a Ni-5%W substrate

The successful inkjet printing of multiple cerium gadolinium oxide (Ce_0.8Gd_0.2O₂) layers on highly textured Ni-5%W is reported using a stable ink, developing a solid-liquid interface comparable with that arising from dip coating. Two different approaches were used for the deposition of CGO layers using a 16-nozzle piezoelectric drop-on-demand print head. Two overlapping square arrays of droplets with constant volume and spacing were printed, with and without an intermediate CGO crystallization. The shortest possible heat treatment of the deposited layers was applied, potentially suitable for continuous large scale production. The results from X-ray diffraction show that the single phase Ce_0.8Gd_0.2O₂ was obtained in all cases, but only the approach with intermediate CGO crystallization can produce a highly textured buffer layer. Optical micrographs and atomic force microscopy (AFM) also indicate the good quality of deposited films after heat treatment.