Characterization of LSCO|BCZY|LSCO for Potential Application in IT-SOFC

Abstract

A high purity of strontium-doped lanthanum cobaltite with formula of La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-δ (LSCO) was synthesized via a combined citrate-EDTA route. LSCO slurry was prepared by mixing LSCO and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) in ethanol solution. This slurry was manually painted onto both surfaces of yttrium-doped cerate-zirconate, BaCe0.54Zr0.36Y0.1O2.95 (BCZY) electrolyte to fabricate a symmetrical cell of LSCO|BCZY|LSCO. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis result revealed that the LSCO was well adhered onto the BCZY electrolyte with no formation of crack or air gap/hole at the LSCO|BCZY interface. Elemental composition of LSCO cathode and BCZY electrolyte elements such as lanthanum (La), barium (Ba) and cerium (Ce) at the interface region was confirmed by electron dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. The electrochemical performance of the fired cell was analyzed in air by an electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) as a function of temperature ranging from 500 – 800°C. It is found that the fabricated cell exhibits low polarization resistance (Rp) at the operating temperatures and the values are comparable with those reported in literature. This significant result indicates that LSCO is a promising candidate to be used as a cathode material for BCZY electrolyte at intermediate temperatures.