An interfacial study between SrZr0.85Cu0.15O3-δ and barium oxide-containing borosilicate glass sealant for solid oxide fuel cell application

Abstract

The broad and widespread commercialisation of solid oxide fuel cells still requires a lot of research and development. Since the fuel cell consists of several components, compatibility of these components is necessary. Because structural, thermal or chemical changes in any of the cell components affect the overall working of the cell. In the present work, perovskite structured SrZr0.85Cu0.15O3-δ (cathode) and a glass sealant, 45SiO2–40BaO–10B2O3–5ZrO2, are mixed in the ratio of 70:30 wt %, respectively and heat-treated at 800 °C for 1, 10, 100 and 500 h in the air. The X-ray diffraction results show the presence of some minor amounts of detrimental phases, i.e. BaSrSi2O6 and SiO2. However, the presence of these phases is minute compared to the major crystalline phase (SrZrO3). Grain size increases with increasing heat-treatment duration with a well-connected cathode-sealant interface. The coefficient of thermal expansion is in the required range as prescribed for solid oxide fuel cells even after 500 h of heat treatment of the diffusion couple at 800 °C.