Abstract
The perovskite nanopowders of lanthanum strontium cobalt ferrite (LSCF) have been synthesized using the alginate mediated ion-exchange process. This perovskite-based material is a promising cathode for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs) due to its high electrical conductivity, low polarizability, high catalytic activity for oxygen reduction, enhanced chemical stability at an elevated temperature in high oxygen potential environment and high compatibility with the ceria based solid electrolytes. Phase pure LSCF 6428, LSCF 6455, and LSCF 6482 corresponding to La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-δ, La0.6Sr0.4Co0.5Fe0.5O3-δ, and La0.6Sr0.4Co0.8Fe0.2O3-δ, respectively were successfully synthesized. The simultaneous thermal analysis (DSC-TGA) and XRD were used to determine the optimum calcination temperature for the dried ion-exchanged beads. Single phase nanopowders of LSCF (6428, 6455, and 6482) have been successfully prepared at a calcination temperature of 700 °C. The TGA analysis showed that every ton of LSCF-ALG dried beads can potentially yield 360 kg of LSCF nanopowders suggesting a potential for scaling-up of the process of manufacturing nanopowders of LSCF.
Highlights
The modern solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are akin to other fuel cell designs as they are capable of generating electricity directly from the reaction between hydrogen gas, natural gas or syngas at the anode with the oxide ions produced at the cathode and transported across the solid electrolyte membrane to the anode
A common trend in flowing air atmosphere was noticeable in all the TGA profiles for all the three compositions the flowing air atmosphere was noticeable in all the TGA profiles for all the three compoof lanthanum strontium cobalt ferrite (LSCF) which indicated a four-step decomposition process
It was found that 11 mg of LSCF-ALG dried beads yielded 4 mg of LSCF nanopowders suggesting a 64% weight loss throughout the i.e., 700 ◦ C was chosen for the bulk product calcination to ensure a complete formation of LSCF from the dried ion exchanged beads
Summary
The modern solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are akin to other fuel cell designs as they are capable of generating electricity directly from the reaction between hydrogen gas, natural gas or syngas at the anode with the oxide ions produced at the cathode and transported across the solid electrolyte membrane to the anode. The cells have the highest operating temperature of all the fuel cell types which is around 800 to 1000 ◦ C They benefit from the high operating temperature as reaction kinetics are enhanced leading to the elimination of the requirement for the catalyst and yielding high power efficiency. Regardless of current advances in the technology, there are still substantial problems to commercializing SOFCs as an energy source to the wider population Their high operating temperature restricts the choice of appropriate materials, decreases the endurance of the cells, costs more to build the cells, lowers the long-lasting stability, and takes a longer time for the start-up and shutdown [2]. Oxygen reduction is known to be responsible for the considerable loss in
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