Design of Sr0.7R0.3CoO3-delta (R = Tb and Er) perovskites performing as cathode materials in solid oxide fuel cells

Abstract

Sr0.7R0.3CoO3-δ (R = Tb and Er) tetragonal perovskites have been prepared and evaluated as mixed ionic-electronic cathodes for SOFC. Neutron powder diffraction (NPD) measurements evidenced that both compounds are oxygen hypo-stoichiometric with long-range order of oxygen vacancies that leads to a tetragonal perovskite-type superstructure (s.g. I4/mmm) stable within the whole temperature range under study. The oxygen vacancies located mainly in the equatorial oxygen positions exhibit large displacement factors. The high oxygen mobility in Sr0.7Tb0.3CoO3-δ was confirmed by 18O oxygen labeling followed by Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) with values of oxygen self-diffusion of 1.29 × 10−10 cm2/s at 525°C. Polarization resistances with LSGM as electrolyte gave values as low as 0.011 Ω⋅cm2 and maximum output powers of 570 mW/cm2 at 850°C were obtained in test cells set in electrolyte-supported configuration. Electrical conductivity, thermal and chemical expansion and stability measurements confirm the potential of these materials as cathodes for SOFC.