One-step synthesized nano-composite cathode material of Pr0.83BaCo1.33Sc0.5O6−δ–0.17PrCoO3 for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cell

Pr0.83BaCo1.33Sc0.5O6−δ–0.17PrCoO3 (PBCS-0.17PCO) nano-composite material has been synthesized by a combined EDTA-citrate complexing sol–gel method, and characterized as cathode material of intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cell (IT-SOFC). Phase structure has been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurement. The results indicate that the composite material is composed of two cubic perovskite phases with nano-scaled grain sizes. Thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) of the composite material was measured to be 18.4 × 10−6/°C at temperatures of 30–900 °C. Electrical conductivities were measured in air by DC four-electrode method, and the conductivity values increase monotonically with the higher temperatures from 100 °C up to 750 °C. Electrochemical performance of the PBCS-0.17PCO composite materials was studied by electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) measurements using GDC-based symmetric cell. Low area specific resistance (ASR) values ranging from 0.127 Ω cm2 at 600 °C, 0.069 Ω cm2 at 650 °C, 0.039 Ω cm2 at 700 °C to 0.026 Ω cm2 at 750 °C were achieved for the composite cathode, demonstrating its promising application in IT-SOFCs.