Comparison of Different Synthesis Methods to Obtain GDC as Nanoparticulated Electrolytic Material for SOFCs Operating at Intermediate Temperature (~500°C)

Abstract

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) are a promising technology to produce electric energy from chemical energy. To achieve this, the development of new materials with enhanced properties are still needed. In this work, the synthesis of nanostructured powders to be used as components of an Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (IT-SOFC) was carried out through different synthesis methods. So, co-precipitation, sol-gel combustion, and hydrothermal synthesis methods were compared in the synthesis of the Gadolinium Doped Cerium G0,2C0,8O1,9 (GDC) used as electrolytic material. Cathodic material (La0.6Sr0.4Co0.8Fe0.2O3 (LSCF) cobaltite type perovskite) was obtained by coprecipitation method. The materials were characterized by Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermal Gravimetrical Analysis (TGA), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM-EDS), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The synthesized materials showed to be nanostructured. The chemical composition measured by EDS was constant in the entire sample and it has the expected stoichiometry in both materials. On the other hand, X-ray patterns exhibited well-defined peaks characteristic of ordered structures and with a high degree of crystallinity, corresponding with the information reported in the literature. From FTIR results, the characteristic peaks related to the presence of perovskites can be observed in the case of LSCF when it was compared to the results found in the literature. Nanostructured LSCF cathodic material was effectively synthesized by coprecipitation method. In the case of GDC highly crystalline material was obtain by sol-gel combustion method. Based on the results, the employed method allows to obtain homogeneous materials suitable to be used in IT-SOFC.