Effects of Varying Spray Pyrolysis Parameters on the Microstructure of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Cathodes

Abstract

Recent studies in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), targets the reduction of operating temperature as well as retaining maximum power output and reduced cost. A promising strategy is in the deposition of gradient porous cathode for use in SOFC at lower temperature. This work is directed at studying the effects on surface morphology, film homogeneity and porosity of lanthanum strontium manganite (LSM) on changing the precursor concentration, nozzle-to-substrate distance, deposition temperature, and solution flow rate. The films crystalline phases, surface morphology and composition, were characterized with the x-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The investigation revealed variations in the microstructure from dense to more porous LSM films at varying temperatures ranging from 300 to 500 , a solution flow rate in the range of 0.6 - 1.1ml/min, precursor concentration between 0.1 – 0.5M. The crystal analysis revealed phase change from cubic to rhombohedral structure on annealing of the deposited film.