1. Study of phase stability of SrTi0.3Fe0.7O3−δ perovskite in reducing atmosphere: Effect of microstructure
- Author
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Mariano Santaya, Liliana Verónica Mogni, Laura Cecilia Baque, Lucía María Toscani, and Horacio Esteban Troiani
- Subjects
Materials science ,02 engineering and technology ,General Chemistry ,Electrolyte ,010402 general chemistry ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Condensed Matter Physics ,Microstructure ,01 natural sciences ,Cathode ,Grain size ,0104 chemical sciences ,law.invention ,Dielectric spectroscopy ,Chemical engineering ,law ,General Materials Science ,Chemical stability ,Particle size ,0210 nano-technology ,Polarization (electrochemistry) - Abstract
Increasing SOFC electrode's surface area by modification of its microstructure is a well-known technique to reduce electrode polarization resistance. This is because reduced grain size and increased porosity promote diffusion and surface reactions, thus improving the electrode performance. However, a modified microstructure also causes differences in phase stability and in chemical compatibility with other SOFC materials. In this work, we study the effect of particle size in both the electrode performance and the phase stability under different fuel conditions and temperatures. SrTi0.3Fe0.7O3−δ (STF) is both prepared via solid state reaction (STF-SSR) and also by an alternative sol-gel route (STF-SG). The sintering temperature is reduced dramatically with the sol-gel method, hence inducing a higher porosity and a much smaller grain size. As particle size is reduced the stability under fuel conditions is also diminished, so decomposition induced by segregation of metallic Fe and SrO occurs at lower temperatures for the STF-SG sample. The stability under reducing conditions is studied by combined techniques such as TGA, TPR, XRD, SEM and TEM. Performance as anode and cathode is evaluated by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) by using electrolyte supported symmetrical cells. Prior to electrochemical experiments, the reactivity between La0.8Sr0.2Ga0.8Mg0.2O3 (LSGM) electrolyte and STF was studied, and also between STF and a Lanthanum Doped Ceria (LDC) buffer layer. It is seen that microstructure also plays a key role in the chemical stability of the STF. The impact of particle size reduction is higher for the anodic polarization resistance, which is reduced twice from STF-SSR to STF-SG.
- Published
- 2019
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