Electrochemical properties of La1.5Pr0.5Ni0.95-xCuxAl0.05O4+δ Ruddlesden-Popper phase as cathodes for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells

The Ruddlesden-Popper materials La1.5Pr0.5Ni0.95-xCuxAl0.05O4+delta (x = 0, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 0.95), La1.5Pr0.5NiO4+delta, and La1.5Pr0.5NiO4+delta have been synthesized by the sol-gel method as cathode materials on the SDC (Sm0.2Ce0.8O1.9) electrolyte for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs). The cathode materials sintered at 700 and 800 degrees C for 72 h, also showing good phase stability. The maximum conductivity of this series reached approximately 50 S cm(-1) at 350 degrees C with x = 0.25. The lowest area-specific resistance (ASR) of the cathode measured on the SDC was 0.04 Omega cm(2) at 800 degrees C with x = 0.1. The maximum power density of the SDC-supported single-cell reached 530 mW cm(-2) at 800 degrees C with x = 0.1. Among all of the samples, La1.5Pr0.5Ni0.95-xCuxAl0.05O4+delta exhibited excellent electrochemical performance, making it a promising candidate cathode material for IT-SOFCs.