Synthesis and electrochemical characterization of La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3–δ / Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95 co-electrospun nanofiber cathodes for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells

Abstract Synthesis and electrochemical characterization of composite cathodes, formed from a mixture of La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3–δ (LSCF) and Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95 (GDC) nanofibers, is reported. The electrodes are obtained by simultaneous electrospinning of the two precursor solutions, using apparatus equipped with two spinnerets working in parallel. Results of electrochemical testing carried out through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are presented and discussed. The results suggest that the electrochemical reaction takes place in an electrode region close to the electrode/current collector interface and that the oxygen ions then flow along the ionic conducting path of the GDC fibers. At 650 °C, the polarization resistance is Rp = 5.6 Ω cm−2, in line with literature values reported for other IT-SOFC cathodes.