Preparation and characteristics of Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3-delta cathodes for IT-SOFCs by electrostatic slurry spray deposition

Abstract

To solve the interfacial peeling-off problem of cathode materials Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3-delta (BSCF), electrostatic slurry spray deposition (ESSD) was applied. The BSCF cathode was deposited on a COO pellet by ESSD and the electrochemical performance of the BSCF cathode is investigated at various temperatures (650-800 degrees C) and oxygen partial pressures (0.15-0.8 atm). Microstructural observation showed that the BSCF/CGO half cell exhibited good adhesion between cathode and electrolyte layers without any cracks for peeling-off problem. The polarization resistance was estimated to 1.78 Omega cm(2) at 650 degrees C and the average activation energy was 118.8 kJ mol(-1). The dependence of polarization resistances on Po-2 shows that the rate-determining step of the oxygen reduction reaction in the prepared BSCF cathode is the charge transfer between electrolyte and electrode. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.