New cathode material La2/3Cu3Ti4 – xFexO12 – δ for solid oxide fuel cell: Synthesis and electrical conductivity

Abstract

Copper lanthanum titanate La2/3Cu3Ti4−xFexO12−δ x = 0–1 was doped with Fe3+ cations. The diagram of the dependence of the tolerance factor on the relative electronegativity of cations for all studied compositions was represented. It was shown that all the compositions exist in the region of existence of distorted perovskite. X-ray diffraction and X-ray phase analysis methods established the region of existence of solid solutions of La2/3Cu3Ti4−xFexO12−δ obtained by ceramic technology, which was 0 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.4. The temperature dependences of electrical conductivity for the compositions from the region of existence of solid solutions La2/3Cu3Ti4−xFexO12−δ were obtained. The ionic-electronic nature of conductivity was suggested. It was shown that the decrease of electronic conductivity under the increase of iron content was due to the compensation of electronic carriers formed during acceptor doping.

Keywords

• copper lanthanum titanate
• cathode material
• solid oxide fuel cell
• electron-ion conductivity