A novel cobalt-free perovskite La0.6Sr0.4Fe0.9Mo0.1O3−δ cathode for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells

Abstract A novel cobalt-free perovskite oxide La 0.6 Sr 0.4 Fe 0.9 Mo 0.1 O 3− δ (LSFM10) was prepared by a citric acid-nitrate process and investigated as a cathode material for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs). It was discovered that the doping with Mo for Fe-site distinctly improved the electrical conductivity of the La 0.6 Sr 0.4 FeO 3− δ sample. The maximum conductivity of LSFM10 reached 159 S cm −1 at 300–800 °C in air. A single cell with the LSFM10 cathode and the proton-conducting BaZr 0.1 Ce 0.7 Y 0.2 O 3− δ (BZCY) electrolyte membrane (~35 μm thickness) supported by a NiO–BZCY composite anode was fabricated and tested at 500–700 °C with H 2 as fuel and air as oxidant. The peak power density of the cell reached 496 mW cm −2 and the interfacial polarization resistance was 0.15 Ω cm 2 at 700 °C. The experimental results indicated that La 0.6 Sr 0.4 Fe 0.9 Mo 0.1 O 3− δ is a suitable cathode material for the proton-conducting IT-SOFCs.