Effect of SSC loading and calcination temperature on the phase and microstructure formation of SSC-SDCC cathode

Abstract

The composite cathode, Samarium strontium cobaltite, Sm0.5Sr0.5CoO3-δ (SSC) and samarium doped ceria, Sm0.2 Ce0.8O1.9 (SDC) carbonate or (SDCC) was developed and scrutinised as for potential cathode materials in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) applications. The microstructural and physical characteristics of composite cathode powders have been explored in terms of SSC loading and calcination temperature. SSC-SDCC composite powders were intimately mixed by employing fast high energy ball milling (HEBM) method with three different SSC loadings which includes of 50, 60 and 70 wt. % and subjected to various calcination temperatures from 600 °C to 750 °C. Subsequently, the calcined cathode powders were then used to fabricate composite pellets using a uniaxial press and undergo sintering process at a temperature of 600 °C. Microstructural behavior of the composite cathode powders was examined using X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS). The physical properties sintered composite pellets were also investigated from the observation on Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). All samples retained their microstructural and physical phase compatibility, with the incorporation of carbonate after various processes. The composite cathode of SSC-SDCC55 with calcination temperature at 75°C was chosen to be used as a potential cathode material for LTSFOC performance regarding the optimum chemical and microstructural properties.