Preparation and Characterization of Single-Phase Perovskite La0.6Sr0.4Co0.8Fe0.2O3-δ

Single-phase perovskite La0.6Sr0.4Co0.8Fe0.2O3-δ has been successfully prepared by using citrate-EDTA complexation method at relatively low calcination temperature. The structure and thermal decomposition process of the complex precursor have been investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry-thermal gravimetric analysis (DSC/TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic (FT-IR) measurements. The precursor decomposed completely and started to form perovskite-type oxide above 420 °C according to the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) results. Single-phase perovskite La0.6Sr0.4Co0.8Fe0.2O3-δ obtained has been confirmed from the XRD pattern, and no peak of SrCO3 was found by XRD of the oxides synthesized at a relatively low temperature of 800 °C. The reducibility of La0.6Sr0.4Co0.8Fe0.2O3-δ was also characterized by the temperature programmed reduction (TPR) technique. Disk shaped dense La0.6Sr0.4Co0.8Fe0.2O3-δ membrane was prepared by the isostatical pressing method. The oxygen flux rate of dense La0.6Sr0.4Co0.8Fe0.2O3-δ membrane was (2.8–18) × 10−8 mol/(cm2·s) in the temperature range of 800–1000 °C.