Phase and microstructure development of LSCM perovskite materials for SOFC anodes prepared by the carbonate-coprecipitation method

Most SOFC development has been based on nickel yttria-stabilized zirconia anodes. Such materials have excellent catalytic properties for fuel oxidation, high electrical conductivity, good mechanical strength and an appropriate thermal expansion coefficient compatible with other cell components. Unfortunately, cermet anodes based on doped zirconia exhibit some disadvantages, e.g., the catalysing side reaction of carbon deposition during hydro-carbon fuel oxidation and a susceptibility to sulphur poisoning. Perovskite-type compounds based on lanthanum-strontium-manganese-chromium oxide (LSCM) can serve as an alternative material. Since the optimal perovskite composition is still not known, La1–xSrxMnyCr1.yO3± (x from 0 to 0.3 and y from 0.4 to 0.6) ceramics were prepared with the co-precipitation method. Crystalline phase formation was followed by X-ray powder diffraction and Rietveld refinement. Quantitative microstructure analysis of the samples sintered at various temperatures was performed on SEM micrographs using Axiovision 4.8 software.