Synthesis of Ni-doped LaSrMnO3 nanopowders by hydrothermal method for SOFC interconnect applications

Abstract

Ni-doped lanthanum strontium manganite (LSMN) nanopowders, La0.7Sr0.3Mn1−xNixO3 (0.05 ≤ x ≤ 0.3) were synthesized at 150 °C for 8 h by hydrothermal reaction as a function of Ni doping concentration. The SEM analyses suggested that the calcination treatment influenced the morphology of the nanopowders. The calcined nanopowders at 1300 °C had agglomerated spherical structure of 44–77 nm. Meanwhile, the XRD studies revealed that the nanopowders have single crystalline phase over the range x = 0.05–0.2. In addition, the LSMN nanopowders were sintered at elevated temperatures, 1250–1350 °C to examine their electrical conductivity for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) interconnect applications under actual SOFC working condition. Their electrical conductivity gradually increased to 90.05 S/cm with Ni doping concentration x = 0.2, which were sintered at 1300 °C. These results suggest La0.7Sr0.3Mn0.8Ni0.2O3 displays a good performance as an optimal composition of the LSMN.