Improve the catalytic property of La$_{0.6}$Sr$_{0.4}$Co$_{0.2}$Fe$_{0.8}$O$_{3}$/Ce$_{0.9}$Gd$_{0.1}$O$_{2}$ (LSCF/CGO) cathodes with CuO nanoparticles infiltration


Type
Article
Change log
Authors
Gao, C 
Liu, Y 
Xi, K 
Jiao, S 
Tomov, RI 
Abstract

LSCF/CGO composite cathodes decorated with small amount (less than 1 wt%) of nano CuO particles has been synthesized by infiltration technique. The area specific resistance (ASR) of the LSCF/CGO at 500 °C has been significantly reduced by the CuO infiltration from 15.5 Ω cm 2 and 0.62 Ω cm 2 to 3.9 Ω cm 2 and 0.32 Ω cm 2 at 500 °C and 650 °C respectively. The redox reaction of Cu 2+ /Cu 1+ at the interface of CuO and LSCF/CGO has been assigned as the main reason for the improvement. Lattice parameter change of LSCF at 500 °C has been detected by High Temperature XRD, indicating partial diffusion of Cu 2+ into the lattice of LSCF, and formation of a new Cu containing compound. The performance stability of the infiltrated samples has been investigated by aging at 500 °C and 650 °C for 150 hours in stagnant air. A slight degradation of the catalytic property was observed during the aging process. The degradation may be attributed to three factors: (i) the coarsening of CuO nanoparticles, (ii) segregation of the SrO due the lattice change and (iii) instability of the new Cu 2+ contained compounds.

Description
Keywords
infiltration, solid oxide fuel cell, CuO, degradation
Journal Title
Electrochimica Acta
Conference Name
Journal ISSN
0013-4686
1873-3859
Volume Title
246
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Sponsorship
EPSRC (via University of St Andrews) (YEP206)
The authors wish to acknowledge EPSRC grant “Tailoring of microstructural evolution in impregnated SOFC electrodes” for the financial support.