Characteristics of Ag Element on LSCF-SDCC-Ag Composite Cathode for LTSOFC Potential Applications

Abstract

Acomposite cathode of Lanthanum Strontium Cobalt Ferrite-Samarium Doped Ceria Carbonate-Argentum (LSCF-SDCC-Ag) for low-temperature SOFC (LTSOFC) potential applications was investigated in this study. This study focuses on the influence of Ag as an additive element in the improvement of microstructural and the improvement of LSCF-SDCC-Ag composite cathode powder properties. Composite cathode powders LSCF-SDCC-Ag with 1-5 wt.% Ag content were prepared using high energy ball milling (HEBM) technique and underwent sintering process at 500 °C. The prepared samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS). The XRD analysis of LSCF-SDCC-Ag composite cathode powder exhibited good chemical compatibility, as there were no secondary constituent detected via XRD sensitivity. The carbonate phase in LSCF-SDCC-Ag was accomplished to preserve their phase as provenvia FTIR analysis. Meanwhile, the quantitative elements for the LSCF-SDCC-Ag composite cathode powder wereidentified using EDS and from HEBM technique, the cathode successfully achieved the nano-composite state powder characteristic. Hence, from XRD, FTIR and EDS analyses, it can be concluded that the LSCF, SDCC and Ag are compatible with each other to form the composite cathode of LSCF-SDCC-Ag for LTSOFC applications.