High performance ferrite--based anode La0. 5Sr0. 5Fe0. 9Mo0. 1O3--$ for intermediate--temperature solid oxide fuel cell

A ferrite–based perovskite oxide La0.5Sr0.5Fe0.9Mo0.1O3–δ (LSFMo) has been evaluated as the anode of intermediate–temperature solid oxide fuel cell (IT–SOFC). XRD result indicates that no metallic iron precipitates from the lattice when the LSFMo was reduced under reducing atmosphere. The LSFMo exhibits a n–type semiconducting behavior in dry H2 and its conductivity values attain 2.5–6.8 S cm–1 at 600–850 °C. The polarization resistances (Rp) of LSFMo anode on La0.9Sr0.1Ga0.8Mg0.2O3–δ (LSGM) electrolyte are 9.08 Ω cm² at 700 °C and 3.04 Ω cm² at 800 °C in dry H2 under open–circuit condition; however, with introducing a Sm0.2Ce0.8O2–δ (SDC) interlayer between the anode and electrolyte, the Rp values are decreased to 1.54 Ω cm² at 700 °C and 0.50 Ω cm² at 800 °C. The maximum power densities (Pmax) of the LSGM supported single cell with configuration of LSFMo/SDC/LSGM/Ba0.6Sr0.4Co0.9Nb0.1O3–δ achieve 722 mW cm⁻² in H2 and 513 mW cm⁻² in CH4 at 800 °C. Moreover, good power cycle stability of the cell in CH4 means excellent carbon resistance of the LSFMo anode. The high electrochemical performance indicates that the LSFMo is a promising anode material for using in IT–SOFC.