Belonging
to the not fully explored REBaCo2‑x
Mn
x
O5+δ system, a series
of REBaCoMnO5+δ (RE: selected
rare earth elements) oxides having perovskite-type structure is synthesized
and studied in terms of their structural properties, oxygen content,
stability, thermal expansion, and transport properties. Impact of
RE3+ on physicochemical properties of the compounds is
derived, with smaller cations causing a decrease of the unit cell
volume, lowering of the total oxygen content and thermal expansion,
but also suppressing electrical conductivity. It is shown that a proper
chemical modification enables to successfully utilize REBaCoMnO5+δ in applications, in which redox processes associated
with oxygen reduction/oxidation and transport determine the effectiveness
of the working material. In particular, NdBaCoMnO5+δ (with larger Nd3+) shows good chemical stability in relation
to Ce0.8Gd0.2O2−δ and
La0.8Sr0.2Ga0.8Mg0.2O3‑δ solid electrolytes and moderate thermal expansion,
20.04(4)·10–6 K–1 in 300–900
°C. In symmetrical configuration with La0.8Sr0.2Ga0.8Mg0.2O3‑δ electrolyte its cathodic polarization resistance is found to be
only 0.036 Ω cm2 at 900 °C, making it an excellent
candidate cathode for solid oxide fuel cells. At the same time, YBaCoMnO5+δ (with small and cheap Y3+) delivers reversible
oxygen storage capacity surpassing 3.4 wt % during the oxygen partial
pressure swing process between air and 5 vol % H2 in Ar
at 500 °C.