High-performance nanofibrous LaCoO₃ perovskite cathode for solid oxide fuel cells fabricated via chemically assisted electrodeposition

Abstract

In this study, a new method is developed for the fabrication of nanofibrous LaCoO3 (LCO) perovskites as cathodes (oxygen electrodes) for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs).

Opportunities, Challenges and Prospects for Electrodeposition of Thin-Film Functional Layers in Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Technology

“…Chemically assisted electrodeposition (CAED) is a relatively new technique for fabricating nanostructured SOFC cathodes in a single loading step which has the advantage of the simultaneous deposition of multiple cations while using dilute aqueous solutions of salts. It was developed by Rehman et al [ 52 , 53 , 54 ]. The proposed method involves CAED of mixed-metal hydroxide onto a carbon nanotube (CNT) template, followed by a low-temperature heat-treatment process (see the scheme in Figure 2 ).…”

“…In [ 52 ], the CAED method was applied to fabricate “nanofibrous” LaCO 3 perovskites as cathode catalysts for SOFCs. To provide a catalyst for the growth of CNTs in the first step, a cobalt nitrate precursor solution was infiltrated into the porous (Sc 2 O 3 ) 0.10 (CeO 2 ) 0.01 (ZrO 2 ) 0.89 (ScCeSZ) scaffolds.…”

“…In [ 53 ], CAED was applied to the fabrication of a cobalt-free LaNiO 3 (LNO)–Ce 0.9 Gd 0.1 O 1.95 (GDC) composite cathode. The porous GDC backbone was fabricated by screen printing on the dense ScCeSZ electrolyte; then, CNTs were deposited onto the walls of the porous GDC scaffolds by the CCVD method [ 52 ]. For the fabrication of the LNO cathodes by CAED, a two-compartment electro-chemical cell separated by an anion-exchange membrane was used, as shown in Figure 3 .…”

Investigation of Co3O4 and LaCoO3 Interaction by Performing N2O Decomposition Tests under Co3O4-CoO Transition Temperature

“…However, the limitations of ceria in SOFCs are due to the fact that at high temperatures or low oxygen partial pressures ceria exhibits mixed ionic and electronic conductivity [17]. On the other hand, perovskite type oxides conduct only ions, and compounds such as lanthanum cobaltate, LaCoO 3 (LCO), are often used in SOFCs as the cathode material [18][19][20].…”

Structural characterization of LaCoO3 perovskite nanoparticles synthesized by sol–gel autocombustion method

“…The perovskite oxides are mixed metal oxides with the general formula AMO 3 , where A is a larger cation (usually an alkaline‐earth or rare‐earth metal cation) and M is the smaller cation (usually a transition metal cation: e.g., Mn, Co, Fe, Ni) surrounded by six oxygen atoms in an octahedral coordination 6 . However, perovskite oxides of the form LaMO 3 , where M is a transition metal, containing Mn, Co, Fe, and Ni have been synthesized in different structures such as nanostructured films, hollow spheres, and mesoporous nanowires, nanoparticles, porous, and fibrous structures, 7‐12 and have been used in variety of applications, including gas sensors (CO, propane, and ethanol sensing), photocatalytic reduction of CO 2 with visible light, electronic devices, electrochemical systems, solid oxide fuel cell, solar cells, and catalysts 11,13‐21 . Similarly, to synthesize and develop the perovskite phase of LaCoO 3 as nanoparticles and nanowires, different methods have been used.…”