In-situ X-ray diffraction study of carbonate formation and decomposition in perovskite-type BCFZ

The effect of CO2 on the two phase perovskite with average composition of BaCo0.4Fe0.4Zr0.2O3−δ is investigated by in-situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) as well as transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Partial decomposition of the BCFZ into high-temperature rhombohedral BaCO3 polymorph was observed during annealing in an atmosphere, which contained 50 vol% CO2/50 vol% N2 at 1173 K. This carbonate structure is not quenchable and cannot be detected by ex-situ methods. Additionally, the reversible phase transition of BaCO3 from orthorhombic to rhombohedral to cubic at different temperatures accompanied by formation of CoO was shown by in-situ XRD and TEM. Furthermore, complete regeneration of perovskite phase was obtained after high-temperature treatment under CO2-free conditions.