TITLE:
Preparation of La0.6Ba0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3 (LBCF) Nanoceramic Cathode Powders by Sol-Gel Process for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) Application
AUTHORS:
Y. M. Al-Yousef, M. Ghouse
KEYWORDS:
XRD, SEM/EDS, La0.6Ba0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3 (LBCF)
JOURNAL NAME:
Energy and Power Engineering,
Vol.3 No.3,
July
29,
2011
ABSTRACT: The La0.6Ba0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3 (LBCF) nano ceramic powders were prepared by Sol-Gel process using nitrate based chemicals for SOFC applications since these powders are considered to be more promising cathode materials for SOFC. Citric acid was used as a chelant agent and ethylene glycol as a dispersant. The powders were calcined at 650oC/6 h, 900oC/3 h in air using Thermolyne 47,900 furnace. These powders were charac terized by SEM/EDS, XRD and Porosimetry techniques. The SEM images indicate that the particle sizes of the LBCF powders are in the range of 50 - 200 nm. The LBCF perovskite phases are seen from the XRD patterns. From XRD Line broadening technique, the average particle size for the powders (as prepared and calcined at 650oC/6 h and 900oC/3 h) were found to be around 12.97 nm, 22.24 nm and 26 nm respectively. The surface area of the LBCF powders for the as prepared and calcined at 650oC were found to be 28.92 and 19.54 m2/g respectively.