Doped Strontium Titanate Anode for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: Electrical and Sintering Behavior

When doped strontium titanate is used as anode material for solid oxide fuel cells, it demands good electron-ion mixed conductivity and proper sintering kinetics. In this work, La0.5Sr1.5Ti1.5Fe0.5O3-6, La0.5Sr1.5Ti1.5Co0.5O3-6, and La0.5Sr1.5Ti1.5Ni0.5O3-6 anodes with double perovskite structure were synthesized. The porosity of the anodes was between 38.5% and 18.7% after sintering at 1200 degrees C in air. The apparent electrical conductivity reached 500-600 S.cm- 1 at 700 degrees C under H2 atmosphere and no pre-reduction process at high temperature was involved. La0.5Sr1.5Ti1.5Co0.5O3-6 anode showed the highest sintering activity and it reached the peak rate of sintering shrinkage at 1209 degrees C. The doping of Fe, Co and Ni elements into strontium titanate exhibited great potential to adjust the conductivity and sintering kinetics for anode materials.