Improvement of LSM performance under co-sintering at high temperature via CeO2 addition

Abstract

This work proposes the use of CeO2 as additive for La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 cathodes (LSM) in order to increase both their thermal stability and electrochemical properties after co-sintering with YSZ-electrolyte at 1350°C. Results show that non CeO2-added LSM is instable at 1350°C, whereas in CeO2-added LSM cathodes the instability is drastically reduced. Besides, results show a correlation between CeO2 addition into LSM and the maximum power density obtained in an YSZ-electrolyte supported single cell (300 μm thickness) with anode and cathode co-sintered at 1350°C. Single cells with non CeO2-added LSM cathodes produce only 7 mW/cm2 at 800°C whereas in CeO2-added (12 mol%) LSM the power density rises up to 117 mW/cm2. Results suggest that CeO2 could enhance the power density by at least two ways: CeO2 doping into LSM structure and by the modification of La2Zr2O7 formation at high temperature. Finally, the CeO2 addition into LSM approach provides the highest co-sintering temperature for LSM-YSZ with a reasonable a promising electrochemical performance and without use any barrier layer between LSM-cathode and YSZ-electrolyte.