Synthesis of Pr2CuO4 powders by using a glycine nitrate combustion method for cathode application in intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells

Pr2CuO4 (PCO) is one of the compounds in the Ln(2)CuO(4) (Ln=Pr, Nd, and Sm) group, which exhibits a Ruddlesden-Popper structure. PCO powders were prepared using a glycine nitrate process for cathode application in an intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cell (IT-SOFC) and its properties were characterized using X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, and alternating current impedance spectroscopy. The PCO cathode demonstrated favorable chemical stability with the electrolyte material of Sm0.2Ce0.8O1.9 (SDC) under 1100 degrees C. The calculated thermal expansion coefficient of PCO was 1.212 x 10(-5) K-1. To reduce the resistance further, the PCO powders were mixed with various wt% of SDC. PCO mixed with 10 wt% SDC exhibited the lowest area-specific resistance of 0.3505 Omega cm(2) for Ag/PCO-10 wt% SDC/SDC/Ag structure at 800 degrees C in air. The maximal power density was obtained as 347.50 mW cm(-2). These results indicate that the PCO SDC composite is a promising candidate for cathode application in IT-SOFCs. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.