Promotional role of BaCO3 on the chromium–tolerance of La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-δ cathodes of solid oxide fuel cells

Degradation of cathodes caused by the gaseous Cr species from a Fe–Cr alloy interconnect is a key issue in the development of durable solid oxide fuel cells technologies. Herein, we explore the effect of infiltration of BaCO3 nanoparticles on the electrocatalytic performance and Cr–tolerance of La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3–δ (LSCF) cathodes. The BaCO3 increases the performance of LSCF and the single–cell delivers a peak power density of 1.30 W cm–2 at 800 °C. The BaCO3 gives rise to no Cr deposition and Sr segregation on LSCF after exposure in gaseous CrO3, while a BaCrO4 surface layer is deposited on the cathode in contact with a Fe–Cr alloy. The synergetic effects of BaCrO4 layer on mitigating the reaction between segregated Sr and Cr2O3 and the very slow kinetics of reaction between BaCO3 and CrO3 contribute to the exceptional Cr–tolerance of the BaCO3 infiltrated LSCF cathodes.