SrCo1–xRuxO3−δ (x = 0.05, 0.1, and 0.15) Perovskites As Outperforming Cathode Material in Intermediate-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

The performance of intermediate-temperature solid-oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFC) prominently depends on the catalytic properties of the cathode materials in the oxygen reduction reaction. With this in mind SrCo1-xRuxO3-δ (x= 0.00, 0.05, 0.10 and 0.15) perovskite phases have been designed and prepared combining the oxygen-diffusion features of SrCoO3-δ oxide with the catalytic activity of Ru4+ ions. Additionally, the presence of Ru contributes to stabilize a tetragonal perovskite. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and “in situ” temperature-dependent neutron powder diffraction (NPD) experiments for x= 0.1 are used to characterized these materials. A tetragonal P4/mmm space group is obtained at room temperature for SrCo1-xRuxO3-δ perovskites. The crystal structure changes into a simple-cubic perovskite unit cell above 400 oC. This can be observed from “in-situ” NPD data. An electrical conductivity between 130 S/cm and 60 S/cm at 850 oC was obtained. Its performance as cathode materials has been investigated in single test...