Electrode activation of anode-supported SOFCs with LSM- or LSCF-type cathodes

Electrode activation of SOFCs refers to one or more processes, which generally occurs during a first period of usually not longer than 100 h of applying a constant electrical load, and is associated with a decrease of the area specific resistance. To study this effect in relation to different starting-up and test conditions in more detail, the electrochemical performance between 650 and 900 °C of two types of anode-supported single cells, one with an La0.65Sr0.3MnO3 (LSM) and the other with an La0.58Sr0.40Co0.2Fe0.8O3−δ (LSCF) cathode, was evaluated. ypes of cells, when heated to and reduced at 800 °C, showed a decrease of the area specific resistance during the first 70 h at 800 °C of exposure under constant electrical load. The initial area specific resistance of cells heated to and reduced at 900 °C was comparable with that of the cells reduced at 800 °C and exposed for 70 h at 800 °C under constant electrical load. In other words, electrode activation is much faster at 900 °C than at 800 °C.