Development of La(CrCoFeNi)O3 system perovskites as interconnect and cathode materials for solid oxide fuel cells

The purpose of this research is to develop interconnect and cathode materials for use in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) which demonstrate desired properties of outstanding sintering properties, high electrical conductivity, and excellent chemical stability at high temperatures. Five different perovskite oxides of lanthanum in combination with chromium, iron, cobalt and nickel oxides powders, i.e. LaCr_0.7Co_0.1Fe_0.1Ni_0.1O₃(LCr7CFN), LaCo_0.7Cr_0.1Fe_0.1 Ni_0.1O₃(LCo7CFN), LaFe_0.7Cr_0.1Co_0.1Ni_0.1O₃(LFe7CCN), LaNi_0.7Cr_0.1Co_0.1Fe_0.1O₃(LNi7CCF), and LaCr_0.25Co_0.25Fe_0.25Ni_0.25O₃(LCCFN), were synthesized through the Pechini method. XRD results show that all materials are in single phase, either rhombohedral or orthorhombic crystal structure. The resulting powders were able to be sintered to a high relative density at a temperature of 1400 °C for 2 h in air. The electrical conductivity of the sintered sample was measured and evaluated from 300 °C to 800 °C. The LCCFN sample appears to have the best combination of sintering property (approximate 94% relative density) and electrical conductivity (88.13 Scm⁻¹ at 800 °C).