Promoted CO2-poisoning resistance of La0.8Sr0.2MnO3−δ-coated Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3−δ cathode for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells

The solution impregnation technology was used to prepare a novel core-shell structure cathode for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs). The core was composed of porous Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3−δ (BSCF) backbone with high oxygen conductivity, while the dense shell consisted of La0.8Sr0.2MnO3−δ (LSM) high catalytic activity and the excellent CO2-poisoning resistance. The presence of the dense LSM shell prevented the BSCF cathode from being poisoned by CO2, and improved its electrochemical performance. The best performance was achieved when the BSCF cathode was impregnated twice in the LSM precursor solution and coated by LSM shell.