Stability and performance of infiltrated La0.8Sr0.2CoxFe1−xO3 electrodes with and without Sm0.2Ce0.8O1.9 interlayers

The chemical stability of composite electrodes produced by the infiltration of La0.8Sr0.2CoxFe1−xO3 (LSCF) into a porous yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) scaffold were investigated as a function of the Co:Fe ratio in the LSCF and the LSCF calcination temperature. XRD and impedance spectroscopy results indicate that for an LSCF calcination temperature of 1123 K, reactions between the LSCF and YSZ do not occur to a significant extent. Reactions producing La2Zr2O7 and SrZrO3 at the interface were observed, however, for a calcination temperature of 1373 K and x values greater than 0.2. In addition to determining the conditions for which reactions between LSCF and YSZ occur, the effectiveness of infiltrated SDC interlayers in preventing reactions at the LSCF–YSZ interface and their influence on the overall performance of LSCF/YSZ composite electrodes was studied.

► For calcination temperatures up to 1123 K, La0.8Sr0.2CoxFe1−xO3 does not react with YSZ.
► For a calcination temperature of 1173 K, La0.8Sr0.2CoxFe1−xO3 does not react with YSZ for x ≤ 0.2.
► Infiltrated SDC interlayers do not affect the performance of La0.8Sr0.2Fe1O3 and La0.8Sr0.2Co0.2Fe0.8O3 cathodes.