La0.6Sr0.4Fe0.8Cu0.2O3-δ perovskite oxide as cathode for IT-SOFC

A La0.6Sr0.4Fe0.8Cu0.2O3-delta (LSFCu) perovskite was investigated as a cathode material for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFC). The LSFCu material exhibited chemical compatibility with the Sm0.2Ce0.8O1.9 (SDC) electrolyte up to a temperature of 1100 degrees C. The electrical conductivity of the sintered sample was measured as a function of temperature from 100 to 800 degrees C. The highest conductivity of about 238 S cm(-1) was observed for LSFCu. The average thermal-expansion coefficient (TEC) of LSFCu was 14.6 x 10(-6) K-1, close to that of typical CeO2 electrolyte material. The investigation of electrical properties indicated that the LSFCu cathode had lower interfacial polarization resistance of 0.070 Omega cm(2) at 800 C and 0.138 Omega cm(2) at 750 degrees C in air. An electrolyte-supported single cell with 300 mu m thick SDC electrolyte and LSFCu as cathode shows peak power densities of 530 mW cm(-2) at 800 degrees C. Copyright 2012, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.