Physical characterization of LSCF-CuO via enhanced modified sol-gel method for intermediate temperature Solid oxide Fuel Cells (IT-SOFCs)

Enhanced modified sol-gel with addition of EDTA as chelating agent was used to produce composite cathode LSCF-CuO for Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (IT-SOFC). Physical properties of La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8-CuO (LSCF-CuO) composite cathode prepared using modified sol-gel method was compared with conventional Pechini method from previous study. LSCF-CuO was calcined at varied range of temperature from 600 degrees C to 900 degrees C. TGA results showed LSCF achieved complete perovskite formation after calcined above 600 degrees C and DTA showed formation of lattice oxygen happened at 570 degrees C. Although weight loss curve flattened after 600 degrees C, there were still small weight loss occurred until 800 degrees C where there is completely no weight loss recorded after that temperature suggesting that LSCF-CuO completely formed after this temperature. Meanwhile, XRD analysis showed no shifted peak with high purity of LSCF-CuO were achieved after calcined at 800 degrees C with nano size crystal of 40.67 nm based from Scherrer equation. SEM and BET showed similar analysis pattern where particle size increase as the calcining temperature increases. Key mapping data from EDX analysis shows a good scatter of CuO across the cathode surface indicating a good distribution of CuO across LSCF surface where the infiltration on B-Site of cathode was succeed. (c) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the Regional Congress on Membrane Technology 2020 (RCOM 2020) and Regional Conference Environmental Engineering (RCEnvE 2020).