Determination of strontium and lanthanum zirconates in YPSZ–LSM mixtures for SOFC

• Published in: Journal of power sources 2008-05, Vol.180 (1), p.209-214
• Main Authors: Cortés-Escobedo, Claudia Alicia, Muñoz-Saldaña, Juan, Bolarín-Miró, Ana María, Sánchez-de Jesús, Félix
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Ceramics; Diffraction; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Fuel cells; Lanthanum; Manganites; Oxide materials; Quantitative analysis; Solid oxide fuel cells; Strontium; Strontium zirconates; Zirconates
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2008.01.067

Mixtures of 3% yttria- and partially-stabilized zirconia with LSM x (strontium-doped lanthanum manganite, x = 0, 0.15 and 0.2) were prepared and heat treated at temperatures between 1000 and 1300 °C to recreate the cathode–electrolyte interface interactions taking place during preparation and operation of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). Such interactions include the formation of La 2Zr 2O 7 and SrZrO 3, which are undesirable for SOFC. The effect of the manganese oxidation number on the mechanosynthesis of LSM during zirconate formation is also discussed. A quantitative analysis of zirconate formation by X-ray diffraction and Rietveld refinement was undertaken. Formation of lanthanum and strontium zirconates was completely avoided at temperatures as high as 1300 °C by synthesizing lanthanum manganites from MnO 2 doped with 15 at.% of Sr. Finally, in the presence of LSM, monoclinic phase content was diminished to less than 1.5 mol% after heat treatment at 1300 °C.