ELABORATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF La₄Ni₃O₁₀ CATHODE MATERIAL (SOFC) BY SOL-GEL PROCESS

Abstract

The goal in this study was to synthesize a lanthanum -nickel phase (Ruddlesden-Popper phases) La 4 Ni 3 O 10 . This material was prepared using a polymeric route. An easy synthesis method is presented in order to obtain an economical cathode material, which can be used in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC). The polymeric precursors were prepared following the Castillo method. The originality of this work was to optimize the ratio HMTA/ metallic salts from 1 to 6. The obtained powders were characterized by thermal analysis; Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC Q10 Instrument TA), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA -Q50 Instrument TA-) and Xray diffractometer (Bruker, D8 Advance diffractometer), in order to determine the crystallized phase. Experiments 5 and 6 did not present coagulation but after few days, solution 5 was transformed into a gel. Gels 2 to 5 were heated in order to obtain a solid material. These powders are characterized by thermogravimetric and thermo-differential methods. The powders obtained at 800, 900 and 1000°C were analyzed by X-ray diffraction and it was found that the temperature to get to the La 4 Ni 3 O 10 phase was 1000ºC.