Electrochemical performance of a mechanochemically prepared submicron-sized crystalline Nd1.8Ce0.2CuO4±δ cathode for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells

To produce a Nd_1.8Ce_0.2CuO_4±δ solid solution, the oxide form of the reagents were milled for 36 h and sintered at 1173 K for 8 h in a microwave furnace. The transition from a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) of conductivity to a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) was suppressed due to the submicron size of the crystallites. The low-frequency response in the complex impedance plane fit the Gerischer element. At 973 K, the area specific resistance (ASR) of Nd_1.8Ce_0.2CuO_4±δ/GDC/Nd_1.8Ce_0.2CuO_4±δ sintered at 1073 K for 2 h was 1.92 ohm cm².