Effect of sintering temperature on the performance of composite La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3–Ce0.9Gd0.1O2 cathode for solid oxide fuel cells

Studied here are the effects of sintering temperature of La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-Ce0.9Gd0.1O2 (LSCF–CGO) cathodes on their microstructure and performance of intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFC). Phase composition, microstructure and electrochemical properties were investigated by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy and current-voltage characteristics measurement, respectively. The electrochemical performances of Ni–YSZ anode-supported SOFC having YSZ electrolyte (4 μm) with CGO interlayer (2 μm) are studied with LSCF–CGO (50:50 wt%) cathodes in the temperature range 600–800 °C using H2 as fuel and air as oxidant. The cathode microstructure was found to be less dense and to contain smaller grains as the sintering temperature was decreased in the range 1250–1150 °C. Results reveal that sintering temperature and electrode morphology have strong influence on electrochemical performances of the IT-SOFC. Highest maximum power density of ∼1.26 W/cm2 is achieved during cell testing at 800 °C with a cathode sintered at 1200 °C. However, cells with in-situ sintered LSCF–CGO cathode showed highest power density at 600 °C (0.48 W/cm2) because there is no particle coarsening at low sintering temperatures.