Ru-Pyrochlores: Compositional Tuning for Electrochemical Stability as Cathode Materials for IT-SOFCs

Using XRD, impedance spectroscopy, and XPS, it was shown that both Bi2Ru2O7 and Pb2Ru2O6.5, generally announced as attractive electrode materials for IT-SOFCs, chemically react with CGO. In addition, a never-mentioned time-instability under electrochemical measurements with YZS as electrolyte mediates the polarization tests. For Pb2Ru2O6.5, long time experiments (stabilization time > 900 h, previously to complementary electrochemical tests), yields strong increasing of the resistance polarization. Concerning Bi2Ru2O7, a partial transformation into Bi3Ru3O11 is observed after impedance measurements. The investigation of the Bi2−x M x Ru2O7−δ (M = Sr, Pb) solid solutions was performed with the aim to improve the catalytic/electric properties. For low x values, it shows a time and chemical stabilization of the electrode/electrolyte cells, able to preserve high electrode performances of these materials. For higher substitution, the chemical/electrochemical instability reappears. According to our polarization measurements versus oxygen pressure and temperature in the so-called “stabilized” samples, the electrode performance appears limited by the diffusion of adsorbed oxygen on the triple point boundary. It is fully compatible with the metallic behavior checked in all the series.