Properties and Performance of La2NiO4+δ-LaNiO3 Composite Cathodes for Intermediate-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

This study prepared composite cathodes of La2NiO4+-LaNiO3 for application in intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs). La2NiO4+ and LaNiO3 powders were synthesized by solid-state reaction. This study examined the effect of composition on the electrical performance of the composite electrodes and noted that the addition of LaNiO3 into La2NiO4+ substantially raised the electrical conductivity. The composite cathodes with 50wt.% LaNiO3 exhibited the highest electrical conductivity of 156 S/cm at 600 degrees C in air. The composite electrode containing 40wt.% LaNiO3 calcined at 1150 degrees C exhibited the lowest polarization resistance at 700 degrees C in air. The addition of LaNiO3 to the La2NiO4+ cathode reduced the polarization resistance.