Improvement of SOFC Cathode by Coating of Cobalt-Rich Oxide Layer

INTRODUCTION: Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are attractive electric power generation system with high energy conversion efficiency. However, the high operation temperature of about 1000°C raises some problems such as the choice and deterioration of materials, long warm-up time and so on. Therefore, SOFCs for low or intermediate temperature (LT or IT) operation have been developed. The primary importance for realization of LTor IT-SOFCs is to develop a catalytically active air electrode with good performance at the operating temperature (500-700°C). La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3 (LSCF) is used as a cathode for LTor IT-SOFCs. More Co-rich LSCFs show higher oxygen reduction activity, however, the good matching with electrolyte specifies the present composition. In this study, the surface modification of commonly used LSCF cathode with Co-rich LSCF by infiltration method was tried. This method was found to be simple way bringing the improvement of SOFC performance without significant change of cell structure.