The effect of thermal treatment on the resistance of LSCF electrodes on gadolinia doped ceria electrolytes

The effect of thermal treatment on the structure and electrical characteristics of La 1 − x Sr x Fe 1 − y Co y O 3 − δ (LSCF) electrodes on Ce 0.9Gd 0.1O 1.95 (CGO) electrolytes has been investigated. Low calcination temperatures and short sintering times leads to the formation of a cubic A-site deficient perovskite, with the composition La 0.6Sr 0.13Co 0.2Fe 0.8O 2.52, which exhibits a low electrode resistance. Higher calcination temperatures and longer sintering times leads to the incorporation of strontium, derived from the decomposition of SrCO 3, into the perovskite structure, producing a stoichiometric rhombohedral perovskite. Electrodes containing a larger proportion of the stoichiometric perovskite had a higher resistance than those consisting largely of the A-site deficient perovskite.