Influence of synthesis route on physicochemical properties of nanostructured electrolyte material La0.9Sr0.1Ga0.8Mg0.2O3−δ for IT-SOFCs

Abstract

Nanosized La0.9Sr0.1Ga0.8Mg0.2O3−δ (LSGM) has been synthesized by both gel-combustion method and solid state reaction method as an electrolyte material for IT-SOFCs. The effect of synthesis route on phase purity of the samples has been studied by X-ray diffraction technique. In the gel-combustion method, perovskite structure was formed at 1,200 °C with only trace amount of impurity and has an average crystallite size of 27 nm obtained by Scherrer’s equation. In solid state route, phase pure product was obtained only at the calcination temperature of 1,500 °C. The characteristics of the samples were also studied using FTIR, TG/DTA, Small angle X-ray scattering, BET surface area, thermal expansion measurements, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The activation energy for oxide ion conduction of LSGM samples derived from Arrhenius plot is ~1.01 and 1.09 eV for gel-combustion and ceramic route, respectively. Linear increment of thermal expansion obtained by Dilatometry shows that there is no phase change at higher temperature in the sample. Sintered densities and microstructural features of the samples were also studied. The chemical compatibility of this electrolyte material has been studied with the perovskite oxide-based cathode material La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3−δ and NiO.