Characterization of La0.5Sr0.5Co0.5Ti0.5O3-δ as symmetrical electrode material for intermediate-temperature solid-oxide fuel cells

La0.5Sr0.5Co0.5Ti0.5O3-delta perovskite oxide has been prepared as polycrystalline powder, characterized and tested as cathode and anode material for solid-oxide fuel cells. The oxidized material is suggested to present mixed ionic-electronic conductivity (MIEC) from "in-situ" neutron powder diffraction (NPD) experiments, complemented with transport measurements; the presence of a sufficiently high oxygen deficiency, with large displacement factors for oxygen atoms suggest a large lability and mobility combined with a semiconductor-like behaviour with a maximum conductivity of 29 S cm(-1) at T = 850 degrees C. A complete reversibility towards reduction-oxidation processes has been observed, where the reduced Pm-3m perovskite with La0.5Sr0.5Co0.5Ti0.5O2.64 composition has been obtained by topotactical oxygen removal without abrupt changes in the thermal expansion. The oxidized material shows good performance working as a cathode with LSGM electrolyte, yielding output power densities close to 500 mW/cm(2) at 850 degrees C. At intermediate temperatures (800 degrees C) it may be used as a cathode or as an anode, yielding power densities of 220 and 170 mW/cm(2), respectively. When used simultaneously as cathode and anode a maximum power density of 110 mW/cm(2) was obtained. Therefore, we propose the La0.5Sr0.5Co0.5Ti0.5O3-delta composition as a promising candidate for symmetrical electrode in intermediate-temperature SOFC. Copyright (c) 2012, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.