Development of La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 + δ electrocatalysts by Pechini's methods as cathode electrocatalysts in alkaline anion exchange membrane fuel cells

• La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 + δ were prepared with various heat treatment temperatures (HTT).
• Higher HTT decreased surface area and lowered Mn oxidation state of La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 + δ.
• Oxygen reduction reaction activity of La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 + δ was evaluated in 0.1 M KOH.
• Increased HTT (600 → 900 °C) enhanced specific activity (14.3 → 49.2 μA cm− 2).
• High mass activity (6.36 A g− 1) was achieved at the HTT of 700 °C.

As cathode electrocatalysts for alkaline anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AAEMFCs), La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 + δ electrocatalysts were synthesized by Pechini's method at various heat treatment temperatures (HTT). With HTT increase from 600 to 900 °C, the surface area gradually decreased 30.6 to 6.0 m2 g− 1, while impurity phase was not detected for all HTTs. The specific activity for the oxygen reduction reaction was analyzed to increase with HTT up to 45.8 ± 6.4 μA cm− 2 at 0.8 V vs. RHE, which could be correlated with the Mn eg filling increase from 0.52 (600 °C) to 0.70 (900 °C). Therefore, the mass activity, which equals to the product of specific activity and surface area, showed maximum value (6.33 ± 0.63 A g− 1) at HTT of 700 °C.