Electrical and electrocatalytic properties of a La _0.8Sr _0.2Co _0.17Mn _0.83O _3-δ cathode for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells

Our previous study of La _1-xSr _xMnO _3±δ (LSM) infiltrated La _0.6Sr _0.4Co _0.2Fe _0.8O _3-δ (LSCF) cathode suggests that a hybrid phase, La _0.8Sr _0.2Co _0.17Mn _0.83O _3-δ (LSMCo), is associated with the observed enhancement in performance and stability of LSCF cathodes. Here we report the properties of LSMCo as a potential cathode for a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). The electrical conductivity of LSMCo varies from 118 to 166 S cm ^-1 at 500-800 °C. The interfacial polarization resistances of an LSMCo cathode on YSZ electrolyte are smaller than those of an LSM cathode at 600-800 °C. The performance of a cell based on an LSMCo cathode is ∼34% higher than that based on an LSM cathode while maintaining comparable long-term stability, indicating that LSMCo is a promising cathode material for intermediate temperature SOFCs.