LaSrCoO-CeGdO nanocomposites prepared by a sol-gel process for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell cathode applications.

LaSrCoO (LSC)-CeGdO (GDC) nanocomposite materials were prepared by a modified sol-gel method to improve solid oxide fuel cell cathode performance in intermediate temperature. Metal acetates precursors and citric acid combined with ethylene glycol as complex agents were used in the sol-gel process. Nano foam-like GDC powders were introduced into the sol-gel process to get the nanocomposites with the GDC content in the range of 10-50 wt%. In addition, pure LSC nano powders were also synthesized for comparison. The crystalline phases, morphologies, and elemental distributions of the pure LSC and LSC-GDC composite powders were characterized, and their electrode performances were investigated with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results showed the GDC particles were largely covered by LSC, and the optimal GDC content was 30 wt% for the LSC-GDC electrode performance in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]