Composite cathode La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-Sm0.1Ce0.9O1.95-Ag for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells

Sm0.1Ce0.9O1.95 (SDC) and La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3 (LSCF) were synthesized by a glycine-nitrate process. A composite LSCF-SDC-Ag cathode was prepared and its structure was analyzed by X-ray diffraction. No chemical reactions among LSCF, SDC, and Ag in the composite cathode were found. The composite cathode was applied onto SDC electrolyte and the microstructure of the electrolyte-electrode interface was examined by SEM. The overpotential of the interface was measured. A single SOFC was prepared by using LSCF-SDC-Ag as cathode, SDC as electrolyte, and Ni-SDC as anode and its performance was measured. Compared to a similar SOFC with LSCF-SDC cathode, it is found that adding Ag in the cathode improved the SOFC performance significantly.