In situ sinterable cathode with nanocrystalline La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3−δ for solid oxide fuel cells

A nanocrystalline powder with a lanthanum based iron- and cobalt-containing perovskite, La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3−δ (LSCF), is investigated for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) applications at a relatively low operating temperature (600–800 °C). A LSCF powder with a high surface area of 88 m2 g−1, which is synthesized via a complex method with using inorganic nano dispersants, is printed onto an anode supported cell as a cathode electrode. A LSCF cathode without a sintering process (in situ sintered cathode) is characterized and compared with that of a sintering process at 780 °C (ex situ sintered cathode). The in situ sintered SOFC shows 0.51 A cm−2 at 0.9 V and 730 °C, which is comparable with that of the ex situ sintered SOFC. The conventional process for SOFCs, the ex situ sintered SOFC, including a heat treatment process after printing the cathodes, is time consuming and costly. The in situ sinterable nanocrystalline LSCF cathode may be effective for making the process simple and cost effective.