Preparation and Investigation of Cu Doped(Pr0.5Nd0.5)0.7Ca0.3CrO3–δ Ceramic Interconnect Materials

(Pr0.5Nd0.5)0.7Ca0.3Cr1-xCuxO3–δ(PNCCCx x=0, 0.5, 0.1, 0.15，0.2 ) interconnect material and electrolyte powders of Sm0.2Ce0.8O1.9 (SDC) were synthesized by citric acid nitrates self-propagating combustion methodThe phase and microstructure of the sintering samples were investigated by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope, respectively. The electrical conductivity of the samples were measured by four-probe technique. The results indicated that there is no new-phase were detected after co-firing between Cu-doping PNCC and SDC at 1350°C for 5 h. In air or H2 atmosphere, the conductivity of the sintering ceramics increasing with temperature, as well as the Cu-doped contents. At 800°C, the conductivity for PNCCC0.05 reached 37.54S/cm in air, and the maximum of PNCCC/SDC reached 44.52 S/cm in air 30.68 S/cm in H2, respectively. The average thermal expansion coefficient of the series ceramics is between10.4×10-6 K-1 to 10.8×10-6K-1 at the RT-1000°C, which is close to that of the SDC electrolyte. Our results indicate that the PNCCC compounds is a very promising interconnect material for intermediate solid oxide fuel cells.