Effect of Sr doping on structural, electrical and electrochemical properties of Nd2CuO4 for IT-SOFC application

Mixed ionic-electronic conducting oxides of Nd2 - xSrxCuO4 - delta for varying values of x = 0.0, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.15, were synthesized by combusting mixed precursor materials under microwave heating. Solid solubility of Sr up to x = 0.1 was established by X-ray powder diffraction. The dc conductivity increases with increase in Sr content in Nd2CuO4. The maximum dc conductivity sigma = 199 S cm(-1) at a selected temperature of 700 degrees C was obtained when x = 0.1. The lowest area specific resistance (ASR = 0.32 Omega cm(2)) coincides with highest conducting Nd1.9Sr0.1CuO4 - delta. The catalytic activity of Nd2 - xSrxCuO4 - delta (x = 0, 0.05 and 0.1) was established from an EIS study. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.