Performance of La0.5Sr1.5MnO4±δ Ruddlesden-Popper manganite as electrode material for symmetrical solid oxide fuel cells. Part A. The oxygen reduction reaction

Abstract

The electrochemical performance of La0.5Sr1.5MnO4±δ (L5S15 M) as SOFC cathode was studied using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) measurements. The influence of the sintering temperature on the electrochemical performance was examined in air for Au/L5S15 M/GDC/YSZ/GDC/L5S15 M/Au symmetrical cell. For the oxygen reduction reaction, the electron transfer between the electrode and oxygen, and the incorporation of oxygen ions into the electrode are the main controlling processes of oxygen reduction reaction for electrodes sintered at 1150 and 1200 °C. Increasing the sintering temperature up to 1250 °C increases the Sr diffusion through GDC interlayer, which leads to Sr accumulation at the GDC/YSZ interface with SrZrO3 formation and subsequent cell performance degradation. The lowest area specific resistance (ASR) values was obtained for the L5S15 M electrode sintered at 1150 °C.