Synthesis and characterization of aluminum-doped perovskites as cathode materials for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells

(Ba_0.5Sr_0.5)(Fe_1-xAl_x)O_3-δ (BSFAx, x = 0–0.2) oxides have been synthesized as novel cobalt-free cathode materials for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs) using a sol-gel method. The BSFAx (x = 0–0.2) materials have been characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The electrical conductivities and electrochemical properties of the prepared samples have also been measured. At 800 °C, the conductivity drops from 15 S cm⁻¹ to 5 S cm⁻¹ when the doping level of aluminum is increased to 20%. The aluminum-doping concentration has important impacts on the electrochemical properties of BSFAx materials. The BSFA0.09 cathode shows a significantly lower polarization resistance (0.26 Ω cm²) and cathodic overpotential value (55 mV at the current density of 0.1 A cm⁻²) at 800 °C. Furthermore, an anode-supported single cell with BSFA0.09 cathode has been fabricated and operated at a temperature range from 650 to 800 °C with humidified hydrogen (∼3vol% H₂O) as the fuel and the static air as the oxidant. A maximum power density of 676 mWcm⁻² has been achieved at 800 °C for the single cell. We believe that BSFA0.09 is a promising cathode material for future IT-SOFCs application.