Electrode stability and electrochemical performance of Lamox electrolytes under fuel cell conditions

The properties of solid solution La2Mo2 − xWxO9 (x = 0.8, 1.0, 1.2, and 1.4) prepared by microwave synthesis are investigated. Open circuit voltages (OCV) as a function of temperature for pure and W-doped samples are reported and these data suggest that La2Mo0.6W1.4O9 performs best in the temperature range 550–650 °C, where the stability of the sample under operating conditions appears to be good and the OCV values close to 1 V. Electrochemical measurements for an electrolyte-based cell were taken over the temperature range 550–650 °C and found to be, as expected, strongly dependent on the electrolyte thickness. These results support the claim that W-doped Lamox can be used as an electrolyte material at temperatures close to 650 °C; with a suitable choice of electrode materials and a change in the fuel cell geometry from electrolyte-supported to electrode-supported so that the electrolyte thickness can be reduced considerably, Lamox-based fuel cells are expected to produce useful power densities.