Thermochemical stability of Fe- and co-functionalized perovskite-type SrTiO3 oxygen transport membrane materials in syngas conditions

The materials typically used for oxygen transport membranes, Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3-delta (BSCF) and La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3 (LSCF) tend to decompose due to their low thermochemical stability under reducing atmosphere. Fe- and Co-doped SrTiO3 (SrTi1-x-yCoxFeyO3-delta, x + y <= 0.35) (STCF) materials showing an oxygen transport comparable to LSCF have great potential for application in ion-transport-devices. In this study, the thermochemical stability of pure perovskite-structured STCF was investigated after annealing in a syngas atmosphere at 600-900 degrees C. The phase composition of the materials after annealing was characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD). The thermodynamic activities of SrO, FeO, and CoO in the STCF materials were evaluated using Knudsen effusion mass spectrometry (KEMS). Co-doped SrTiO3 (STC) materials were not stable after annealing in the syngas atmosphere above 5 mol% Co-substitution. Ruddlesden-Popper-like phases and SrCO3 were detected after annealing at 600 degrees C. In contrast, Fe substitution (STF) showed good stability after annealing in syngas upto 35 mol% substitution.