Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3 nanopowders prepared by glycine–nitrate process for solid oxide fuel cell cathode

Nanopowders of Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3 (BSCF) were synthesized by glycine–nitrate process using glycine and metal nitrates as the starting materials. The structural and morphological properties of BSCF powders were characterized by SEM, XRD and EDS. Results showed that microstructure of as-prepared powders was porous and their size was less than 20 nm. Pure perovskite phase was completely formed after heat treatment at 850 °C for 2 h in the air. All of above characteristics were very beneficial for IT-SOFC cathode. G/n molar ratios played an important role in the process. With increasing g/n molar ratio, flame temperature increased subsequently and size of as-prepared powders increased too. G/n molar ratios influenced pores distribution through reaction intensity. When g/n molar ratio was 0.56, distribution of pores in as-prepared aggregates was the most uniform.