Electrochemical performances of LaBaCuFeO5+x and LaBaCuCoO5+x as potential cathode materials for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells

Layered perovskite-structure oxides LaBaCuFeO5+x (LBCFO) and LaBaCuCoO5+x (LBCCO) were prepared and the electrical conductivity and electrochemical performance were investigated as potential cathode materials for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs). The electrical conductivity of LBCCO is much higher than that of LBCFO. Area specific resistances of LBCFO and LBCCO cathode materials on Ce0.8Sm0.2O1.9 (SDC) electrolyte are as low as 0.21 Ω cm2 and 0.11 Ω cm2 at 700 °C, respectively. The maximum power density of the LBCFO/SDC/Ni-SDC and LBCCO/SDC/Ni-SDC cells with 300 μm thick electrolytes attains 557 mW cm−2 and 603 mW cm−2 at 800 oC, respectively. Preliminary results demonstrated that the layered perovskite-structure oxides LBCFO and LBCCO are very promising cathode materials for application in IT-SOFCs.