Performance of Cobalt-free La0.6Sr0.4Fe0.9Ni0.1O3-δCathode Material for Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

A series of cobalt-free perovskite-type cathode materials La0.6Sr0.4Fe1–xNixO3–δ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.15) for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs) are prepared by a citric-nitrate process. The conductivities of the cathode materials are measured as functions of temperature (300–800 °C) in air by AC impedance method, and the La0.6Sr0.4Fe0.9Ni0.1O3–δ (LSFN10) has the highest conductivity to be 160 S cm–1 at 400 °C. A single IT-SOFC based on LSFN10 cathode, BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.2O3–δ electrolyte membrane and Ni–BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.2O3–δ anode substrate was fabricated by a simple spin-coating process, and the performances of the cell using hydrogen as fuel and air as the oxidant were researched by electrochemical methods at 600–700 °C. The maximum power densities of the cell are 405 mW cm–2 at 700 °C, 238 mW cm–2 at 650 °C, and 140 mW cm–2 at 600 °C, respectively. The results indicate that the LSFN10 is a promising cathode material for proton conducting IT-SOFCs.