TITLE:
Synthesis of Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.2Fe0.8O3 (BSCF) Nanoceramic Cathode Powders by Sol-Gel Process for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) Application
AUTHORS:
Yousef M. Al-Yousef, Mohammad Ghouse
KEYWORDS:
SEM/EDS, TGA/DTA, Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.2Fe0.8O3 (BSCF)
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of Nano Science and Engineering,
Vol.1 No.4,
December
9,
2011
ABSTRACT: The nano ceramic Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.2Fe0.8O3 (BSCF) powders have been synthesized by Sol-Gel process using nitrate based chemicals for SOFC applications since these powders are considered to be more promising cathode materials for SOFC. Glycine was used as a chelant agent and ethylene glycol as a dispersant. The powders were calcined at 850℃/3 hr in the air using Thermolyne 47,900 furnace. These powders were characterized by employing SEM/EDS, XRD and TGA/DTA techniques. The SEM images BSCF powder indicate the presence of highly porous spherical particles with nano sizes. The XRD results shows the formation of BSCF perovskite phase at the calcination temperature of 850℃. From XRD line broadening technique, the average crystllite size of the BSCF powders were found to be around 9.15 - 11.83 nm and 13.63 - 17.47 nm for as prepared and after calcination at 850℃ respectively. The TGA plot shows that there is no weight loss after the temperature around 450℃ indicating completion of combustion.