Effects of Soaking Duration on the Properties of LSCF–SDCC for Low-Temperature SOFC

Abstract:

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) offer the advantages of high efficiency, low pollution emission, and low processing cost. SOFC quality is strongly influenced by the preparation process. Composite La₀.₆Sr₀.₄Co₀.₂Fe₀.₈O_3-δ (LSCF) samarium-doped ceria carbonate (SDCC) cathode for low-temperature SOFCs was developed, and the effect of sintering soaking time on the physical properties of an LSCF–SDCC composite cathode was studied. Composite cathode powders with 50 wt.% LSCF and 50 wt.% SDCC were mixed before undergoing calcination and uniaxial pressing process. The pressed samples were sintered at 600 °C and soaked at 1, 2, and 3 hr. The porosity and density results obtained by the Archimedes method showed a decrement of porosity from 24.92% to 19.62% and an increment of density from 4.03 g cm⁻¹ to 4.15 g cm⁻¹ under 1 hr to 3 hr of soaking time. Scanning electron microscopy reveals that the grain size of the composite cathode surface increases with increasing soaking time. X-ray diffraction results demonstrate that the diffraction angles at 33^o and 59^o exhibit a decreasing SDCC peak because of the increasing grain size. However, the new peak of lithium chromium oxide (Li₂CrO₄) appears at an angle of 21.66° for 3 hr soaking time. The findings proved that soaking time influences the microstructure of the composite cathode.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 1133)
• Pages: 28-32
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.1133.28
• Online since: January 2016
• Authors: Linda Agun, Siti Fairus Jimat, Hamimah Abdul Rahman*
• Keywords: La₀.₆Sr₀.₄Co₀.₂Fe₀.₈O_3-δ–Samarium-Doped Ceria Carbonate (LSCF–SDCC), Low-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (LT-SOFCs), Physical Properties, Sintering, Soaking Time

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