Characterization and performance of (La,Ba)(Co,Fe)O3 cathode for solid oxide fuel cells with iron–chromium metallic interconnect

(La0.6Ba0.4)(Co0.2Fe0.8)O3 (LBCF) is synthesized by a sol–gel method as a Cr-tolerant cathode for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (ITSOFCs). The electrochemical performance and Cr deposition process for the O2 reduction reaction on LBCF cathodes in the presence and absence of a Fe–Cr alloy interconnect are investigated in detail, in comparison with a (La,Sr)(Co,Fe)O3 (LSCF) electrode. Cr deposition occurs for the O2 reduction reaction on LBCF electrodes in the presence of Fe–Cr alloy. Very different from that observed for the reaction on the LSCF cathode, Cr deposition on the LBCF electrode/gadolinia-doped ceria (GDC) electrolyte system is very small and shows little poisoning effect for O2 reduction on LBCF electrode. The results demonstrate that the LBCF electrode has a high resistance towards Cr deposition and high tolerance towards Cr poisoning.