Electrochemical performance of YSZ coupled Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Fe_0.9Cu_0.1O_3-δ electrode at intermediate temperature

Synthesis of electrolyte 8% Y2O3 stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and characterization of electrical conductivity with BSFC Ba0.5Sr0.5Fe0.9Cu0.1O3-δ (BSFC) electrode have been conducted. YSZ and BSFC were synthesized using sol-gel self-combustion. YSZ powder was calcined at 700℃ for 2 hours, then pressed into a disk and sintered at 1550 ^0C for 6 hours. While BSFC powder was calcined at 850 ℃ for 6 hours and sintered at 1100 ^0C for 6 hours. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis shows that calcined powder of both YSZ and BSFC has cubic structure possessing space group (Fm-3m) and (Pm-3m), respectively. The lattice parameter of the YSZ a = 5.1677 Å, while the BSFC a = 3.9469 Å. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) shows that BSFC can adhere well to the surface of YSZ. The electrical behavior of the YSZ and half-cell BSFC||YSZ||BSFC exhibit two semi-circles below 200 ℃, three between 250 ℃ and 500 ℃, and two at 550 ℃ and above. These semi-circles are related to the resistance of the grains, the grains boundary of YSZ or YSZ+BSFC, and the electrode. The resistivity decreased with increasing temperature, in which the resistivity of BSFC||YSZ||BSFC is lower than YSZ due to the influence of BSFC. Cathode material BSFC is suitable for YSZ electrolytes.