Electrochemical properties of an ordered perovskite LaBaCo2O5 + δ-Ce0.9Gd0.1O2 − δ composite cathode with strontium doping for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells

The effects of Sr substitution for Ba on the structural properties, oxygen content, electrical conductivity, and electrochemical performance of a cation-ordered perovskite LaBaCo2O5 + δ (LBCO) oxide have been investigated in relation to the application of LBCO as a cathode material for IT-SOFC applications. The electrical conductivity of LaBa0.5Sr0.5Co2O5 + δ (LBSCO) in air decreases with increasing temperature. At the temperature range of 100-850 °C, the electrical conductivity of LBSCO is much higher than that of Sr-free LBCO. The minimum area specific resistance value is achieved at LBSCO composite with 40 wt.% Ce0.9Gd0.1O2 − δ (GDC). The best performance of LBSCO-40GDC based on a GDC electrolyte reaches 1.254 W cm− 2 at 600 °C. These data allow us to propose that the LBSCO-40GDC is a good candidate for IT-SOFC applications.