Synthesis and physicochemical characterization of nanocrystalline cobalt doped lanthanum strontium ferrite

Nanosized crystallites of La0.6Sr0.4Fe0.8Co0.2O3−δ (LSCF), a promising cathode material for Intermediate Temperature-Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (IT-SOFCs) has been synthesized by alternative methods like ceramic route, polymerisable complex process and gel-combustion method and calcined at different temperatures. X-ray diffraction studies were used for the determination of phase purity, crystal structure and average crystallite size of the samples. Microstructure of LSCF samples was studied by SEM. Temperature-programmed reduction studies were done for evaluating the redox behavior of the samples prepared by alternative methods. The electrical conductivity measurements of sintered samples were carried out at elevated temperatures using four-probe method. The electrical conductivity of sample synthesized by gel-combustion method was more as compared to sample prepared by polymerisable complex process and ceramic route. The electrical conductivity decreased at high temperature due to loss of oxygen and the formation of oxygen vacancies. Thermo-dilatometry was used to study the linear thermal expansion behavior of the samples which shows that there is an observable increase in thermal expansion at high temperatures.

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