The effect of copper infiltration on LSM Cathode microstructure in high temperature solid oxide fuel cells

Solid oxide fuel cells are a technology that can convert chemical energy directly into electrical energy. In the present study, LSM single-phase nanoparticles with the nominal chemical formula La۰.۸Sr۰.۲MnO۳ were successfully synthesized by the improved Pachin method., and the infiltration of heterogeneous copper and cerium electrocatalysts on the cathode was investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to determine the phase composition. The microstructure of synthesized powdes, and surface morphology were characterized using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The coated composition was examined using Elemental Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) and elemental mapping image s.The microstructure of the electrocatalysts inoculated on the cathode was investigated by FE-SEM. The inoculation of ۰.۵M copper + ۰.۵M cerium nanoparticles with broad distribution on the LSM cathode surface with dimensions from ۲۳ to ۵۲ nm was obtained. While using one-component solutions of copper and cerium, nanoparticles with dimensions of ۳۹ to ۶۱ nm and ۲۰ to ۴۲ nm were created on the cathode surface, respectively.

Keywords:

Infiltration , Copper , Cerium , LSM Cathode , High-temperature SOFC