Phase formation and phase transition of Ln1–xCaxCoO3–δ (Ln= La, Er) applied for bifunctional air electrodes

Abstract

The Ln_1–xCa_xCoO_3–δ (x = 0, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5) (Ln = La, Er) phase formation process from chemical methods (amorphous and crystalline precursor decomposition) and a physical method (Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD)) was monitored with high temperature X-ray powder diffraction (HT-XRD), thermal analysis, and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The morphology and crystallographic structure of the products with identical composition obtained from different synthesis routes were systematically compared and evaluated for the possible application as electrocatalysts in bifunctional air electrodes.