The composite cathode Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2 (BSCF)–samarium-doped ceria carbonate (SDCc) was reviewed based on different (Li/Na)2 carbonate molarities (67:33, 62:38, and 53:47 (mol.%)). Effects of (Li/Na)2 carbonate on BSCF was studied in terms of chemical, thermal, and physical properties. Composite-cathode powders were prepared using high-energy ball milling (HEBM) and calcined at 750 °C for 2 h before uniaxial pressing to form a pellets. Afterwards, the pellets were sintered at 600 °C for 90 min to obtain porous composite-cathode pellets. Powders behaviors were examined based on particle size and thermal expansion by using Image J software, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and dilatometry respectively. Cross-section morphology of the pellets were characterised by FESEM to examine grain positions and by the Archimedes principle to identify the porosity, respectively. The quantitative elements for the BSCF-SDCc pellet were identified using energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). HEBM enabled the cathode to achieve a nanocomposite state. Cathode cells obtained became porous when porosity values were between 26% and 30%. These results showed that BSCF–SDCc has high potential for low-temperature solid oxide fuel cell (LT-SOFC) applications.

Barium strontium cobalt ferrite (BSCF) and lanthanum strontium carbonate ferrite (LSCF)–samarium-doped ceria carbonate (SDCc) composite cathodes were developed based on various molar ratio of binary carbonate. The percentage of molar ratio for (Li/Na)2 binary carbonate in the composite cathodes were 67:33, 62:38, and 53:47. Influence of (Li/Na)2 binary carbonate addition on BSCF-SDCc and LSCF-SDCc were studied in terms of chemical, thermal, and physical properties. The composite-cathode powders were prepared using high-energy ball milling (HEBM) and followed by calcination at 750 °C for 2h. Characterizations of the composite cathode were performed through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and dilatometry. The FTIR result verified the existence of carbonates in all the composite cathodes. The increment in the Na2CO3 molar ratio has contributed to the growth of the BSCF-SDCc particles as observed from the FESEM micrographs and particle size. The LSCF-SDCc composite cathodes revealed a lower (1.38-6.69%) thermal coefficient difference with SDCc electrolyte. The BSCF-SDCc and LSCF-SDCc composites with 53:47 mol.% of (Li/Na)2 binary carbonate exhibit the applicable properties as SOFC cathode material.