Structural and electrochemical characterisation of Pr0.7Ca0.3Cr1−yMnyO3−δ as symmetrical solid oxide fuel cell electrodes

A series of compounds with composition Pr0.7Ca0.3Cr1−yMnyO3−δ (y = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8) were prepared from an alternative freeze-drying precursor method to obtain polycrystalline powders at relatively low temperature. These perovskite-type materials were tested simultaneously as both anode and cathode in a symmetrical SOFC. The effect of the ratio Mn/Cr on the structure, microstructure and electrochemical properties was studied. The performance is rather modest at low temperature and only interesting values were obtained at high temperatures. An assembled symmetrical SOFC rendered performances of 250 and 160 mW cm−2, at 950 °C, under humidified H2 and CH4 respectively.