Effect of firing temperature on LSM-YSZ composite cathodes: A combined three-dimensional microstructure and impedance spectroscopy study

J. Scott Cronin*, Kullachate Muangnapoh, Zach Patterson, Kyle J. Yakal-Kremski, Vinayak P. Dravid, Scott A. Barnett

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

74 Scopus citations

Abstract

(La 0.8Sr 0.2)MnO 3-Yttria Stabilized Zirconia (LSM-YSZ) cathodes fired at various temperatures were studied using Focused Ion Beam -Scanning Electron Microscopy (FIB-SEM) three-dimensional (3D) tomography and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). The total cathode polarization resistance, measured at 800°C in air, showed a minimum versus firing temperature, T f, at 1175C. The EIS showed two dominant responses that were fit well using a two (R-CPE) element equivalent circuit. The higher frequency (10 4-10 5 Hz) response, attributed to YSZ grain boundary resistance within the LSM-YSZ composite, decreased with increasing T f and was explained by grain size increases estimated from the 3D structural data. The main EIS response, attributed to the oxygen reduction process, decreased in characteristic frequency from 500 to 1 Hz as T f increased, while its magnitude was minimized at 1175°C. An electrochemical model quantitatively predicted the resistance minimum based primarily on a maximum in the density of electrochemically-active three-phase boundaries (TPBs), measured using 3D tomography. The active TPB density maximum resulted from two factors: substantial particle coarsening and densification at high T f that yielded a low TPB density, and low LSM-particle percolation at low T f that yielded a low fraction of active TPBs.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)B385-B393
JournalJournal of the Electrochemical Society
Volume159
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2012

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Materials Chemistry
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films
  • Electrochemistry
  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

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