COMPOSITE La0.6Sr0.4Co0.8Fe0.2O3/Ag CATHODE FOR SOFCs WITH Ce0.8Sm0.2O1.9 ELECTROLYTE

Influence of the short time external polarization of silver electrode contacted Ce0.8Sm0.2O1.9 electrolyte was studied. Silver is moving along the Ce0.8Sm0.2O1.9 surface during the -0.5 V cathodic polarization at 600 degrees C. It caused both the increase of the electrode - electrolyte contact area and the triple phase boundary length but also decrease of electrolyte and polarization resistances. Deposit of silver oxide was found at the place where the electrode polarized at the potential of 0.5 V contacted the electrolyte and around. The decrease of electrolyte and polarization resistance was smaller but more stable in this case. Composite cathodes were obtained on Ce0.8Sm0.2O1.9 electrolyte with the double step sintering procedure. Silver introduced into a La0.6Sr0.4Co0.8Fe0.2O3 cathode improved a performance of a La0.6Sr0.4Co0.8Fe0.2O3 vertical bar Ce0.8Sm0.2O1.9 vertical bar Ni cell by 33%.