Kinetic demixing/decomposition of Ba0.5Sr0.5CoxFe1−xO3−δ (x = 0.2 and 0.8)

Microstructural changes due to kinetic demixing within sintered BSCF ceramics (Ba0.5Sr0.5CoxFe1−xO3−δ, x = 0.2 and 0.8: BSCF5528 and BSCF5582, respectively) have been investigated. When the specimens were subjected to 2 A/cm2 at 1000 °C and pO2 = 10−5 atm, there was a significant enhancement of grain growth as well as 2nd phase formation observed in BSCF5528. At the anode, cobalt deficient aggregates within the grains; and, at the cathode, cobalt rich 2nd phase particles were observed on the grain surfaces of the microstructure. Such phenomena were not observed in BSCF5582, even under higher current density (7 A/cm2) and longer delay time. These results were explained by the kinetic demixing/decomposition.