Structural and electrical study of LaCrO3 modified with Fe and Co

Abstract

The present work shows the effect of a modification on LaCrO3 oxide using Fe and Co cations over the structural and electrical properties in order to evaluate its response to applications as electrode in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). The LaCr0.8Fe0.2O3 and LaCr0.6Co0.2Fe0.2O3 oxides were synthetized by polymerization-combustion method using citric acid as complexing agent. The characterizations by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and Raman spectroscopy revealed the conformation of a LaCrO3 single phase with an orthorhombic structure (Pnma 62) in both ceramics and average crystal size of 131nm. The images of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed the conformation of materials with relevant morphological characteristics obtained because of synthesis method used. Analysis by Impedance spectroscopy (IS) from room temperature to 800°C, indicated that both oxides were semiconductor type in accordance to thermal activation process.