Perovskite Cathodes with Thin YSZ Electrolytes

Journal of Power Sources 192 (2009) 396–399

PEROVSKITE-RELATED INTERGROWTH CATHODE MATERIALS WITH THIN YSZ ELECTROLYTES FOR INTERMEDIATE TEMPERATURE SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELLS.

Claudia Torres-Garibay^a, and Desiderio Kovar^b

Materials Science and Engineering Program
The University of Texas at Austin
1 University Station C2200
Austin, TX 78712
United States

^aclautoga@alumni.utexas.net
^bdkovar@mail.utexas.edu

Corresponding Author. Present address: Materials Science and Engineering Department, University of Michigan, 2300 Hayward St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. Phone: +1-734-223-0359. Fax: +1-734-763-4788

ABSTRACT
The electrochemical performances of solid oxide fuel cells with thin YSZ electrolytes and YSZ/Ni anodes were studied with two intergrowth oxides cathodes (Sr_2.7La_0.3Fe_1.4Co_0.6O_7-δ and La₃Fe_1.5Co_1.5O_10-δ) and the results compared to a related perovskite cathode (La_0.6Sr_0.4Co_0.5Fe_0.5O_3-δ). It was found that cells produced with La₃Fe_1.5Co_1.5O_10-δ exhibited peak power densities of greater than 0.75 W/cm², despite the relatively modest electrical conductivity of this compound. In contrast, cells produced with Sr_2.7La_0.3Fe_1.4Co_0.6O_7-δ and La_0.6Sr_0.4Co_0.5Fe_0.5O_3-δ cathodes both exhibited peak power densities of less than 0.4 W/cm². The greater performance for the cells produced with La₃Fe_1.5Co_1.5O_10-δ may be attributed to a higher catalytic activity for this compound or to improved adhesion of the cathode to the interlayer/electrolyte.