Performance of La0.8Sr0.2CoO3 coated NiO as cathodes for molten carbonate fuel cells

La0.8Sr0.2CoO3 was coated on NiO (LSC–NiO) cathodes using a sol–gel method. Dissolution studies in molten Li2CO3 and K2CO3 (62:38 mol%) at 650 °C showed lower Ni dissolution than that of the conventional nickel oxide cathode. Impedance analysis showed that the behavior of the developed cathode is similar to that of nickel oxide. The LSC coated Ni cathode has an over potential of 109 mV at an applied current density of 160 mA/cm2. The LSC–NiO shows promise as an alternate cathode in molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs).