SrCo1−xSbxO3−δ cathode materials prepared by Pechini method for solid oxide fuel cell applications

In this study, SrCo1−ySbyO3−δ powders were prepared by a modified Pechini method. According to the study results, the cubic Pm3m phase of the SrCo1−ySbyO3−δ ceramics was obtained as 10% of cobalt ions were substituted by antimony ions. Doping of Sb3+ ions appeared both to stabilize the Pm3m phase of the SrCo1−ySbyO3−δ ceramics and to enhance densification and retard grain growth. The coefficient of thermal expansion of the SrCo1−xSbxO3−δ ceramics increased with the content of the antimony ions, ranging from 10.17 to 15.37 ppm/°C at temperatures lower than the inflection point (ranging from 450 °C to 550 °C) and from 22.16 to 29.29 ppm/°C at higher temperatures. For the SrCo0.98Sb0.02O3−δ ceramic, electrical conductivity reached a maximum of 507 S/cm at 450 °C. The ohmic and polarization resistances of the single cell with the pure SrCo0.98Sb0.02O3−δ cathode at 700 °C read respectively 0.298 Ω cm2 and 0.560 Ω cm2. The single cell with the SrCo0.98Sb0.02O3−δ-SDC composite cathode appeared to reduce the impedances with the R0 and RP at 700 °C reading respectively 0.109 Ω cm2 and 0.127 Ω cm2. Without microstructure optimization and measured at 700 °C, the single cells with the pure SrCo0.98Sb0.02O3−δ cathode and the SrCo0.98Sb0.02O3−δ-SDC composite cathode, demonstrated maximum power densities of 0.100 W/cm2 and 0.487 W/cm2. Apparently, SrCo1−ySbyO3−δ is a potential cathode for use in IT-SOFCs.