Physiochemical and Electrochemical Properties of Lanthanum Strontium Cobalt Ferum–Copper (II) Oxide Prepared via Solid State Reaction

Lanthanum strontium cobalt ferum (LSCF) with addition of copper oxide (CuO) can serve as an alternate cathode material in Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (IT-SOFC) due to its strong catalytic activity for oxygen reduction process at intermediate temperatures and great chemical compatibility. This study was done to determine the viability of LSCF–CuO composite as a material for the IT-SOFC cathode. The cathode powder was synthesised using the conventional solid-state process at intermediate temperatures range (600ºC–900ºC). The thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated that when LSCF was calcined at temperatures over 600ºC, the weight loss curve flattened. In the meantime, x-ray diffraction revealed that the perovskite structure of LSCF-CuO was completely formed after calcined at 800ºC. Moreover, the Brunauer– Emmett–Teller (BET) and scanning electron microscope investigations demonstrated that as the calcination temperature rose, the LSCF–CuO particles tended to grow. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy investigation revealed polarisation resistance of samples calcined at 800ºC (0.41 Ωcm2) was significantly lower than that of samples calcined at 600ºC (29.57 Ωcm2). Judging from chemical, physical and electrochemical properties, it is evidence that LSCF-CuO prepared via simple solid-state reaction has a potential to be used as cathode material for IT-SOFC.