“Influence of co-doping on structural, morphological, and electrical properties of Ruddlesden-Popper-type [formula omitted] as a cathode material for IT-SOFC”

Abstract

For electric power generation Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) is the promising technology. Ruddlesden Popper type rare earth Nickelates have shown better performance as cathode with various electrolytes such as SDC and YSZ and possess high catalytic activity for ORR at intermediate temperature range of SOFCs. In the present work, samarium strontium nickelate SmSrNiO4-δ and co-doped (Sm0.95La0.05Sr0.95Ca0.05NiO4-δ) were synthesized by solid state route reaction method. The phase purity of samples is determined by X-ray Powder diffraction method and further confirmed by Rietveld refinement which was performed by using FULLPROF suite with I4/mmm symmetry and space group (139) and χ2 lies appreciably within the experimental errors. Further XRD confirms the single tetragonal phase which does not change with the co-substitution. The porous microstructure has been observed for all the studied samples. The micrograph shows that the average grain size increases with the co-substitution. The conductivity is observed to increase nearly-two folds with the co-substitution as compared to the parent sample. However, the oxygen reduction reaction is nearly same for both the samples.