Effects of sintering temperature on the structural and electrochemical properties of SrFe0.5Ti0.5O3-[delta] perovskite cathode

The effects of sintering temperature on the structural and electrochemical properties of SrFe0.5Ti0.5O3-[delta] perovskite cathode film was investigated. For the structural properties of SrFe0.5Ti0.5O3-[delta] film sintered at a temperature ranging from 900-1300°C, changes in surface and cross-sectional microstructure were studied. Surface porosity and micro hardness were analyzed. The relationship of the structural properties with the electrical and electrochemical performances of the SrFe0.5Ti0.5O3-[delta] film was examined. The high densification of the film sintered at 1300°C led to the better electrical conductivity of 16.38 S cm-1 than the 4.86 S cm-1 of the film sintered at 900°C at an operating temperature of 800°C. For the electrochemical performance, the SrFe0.5Ti0.5O3-[delta] film sintered at 1300°C gained a low area specific resistance (ASR) value of 38.70 [Omega] cm2 at 800°C. The ASR further decreased to 0.99 [Omega] cm2 for the thicker film sintered at the same temperature.