Abstract & References Vol 26 No 3 (2022)

Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 26 No 3 (2022): 640 - 651

PHYSICAL AND ELECTROCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LiCo_0.6Sr_0.4O₂ CATHODE INK FOR INTERMEDIATE-LOW TEMPERATURE SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL

(Pencirian Fizikal dan Elektrokimia Terhadap Dakwat Katod LiCo_0.6Sr_0.4O₂ bagi Sel Fuel Oksida Pepejal Bersuhu Sederhana Rendah)

Nur Nadhihah Mohd Tahir¹, Nurul Akidah Baharuddin¹*, Wan Nor Anasuhah Wan Yusoff¹, Azreen Junaida Abd Aziz¹, Mahendra Rao Somalu¹, Andanastuti Muchtar^1,2

¹Fuel Cell Institute

²Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

*Corresponding author: akidah@ukm.edu.my

Received: 30 November 2021; Accepted: 27 February 2022; Published: 27 June 2022

Abstract

Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is a technology used to generate electricity with less emission. Selection of a suitable, compatible cathode material that will be used with the ionic and protonic electrolyte is crucial in achieving an excellent performance of intermediate-low temperature SOFC. LiCo_0.6Sr_0.4O₂ (LCSO) is stoichiometrically prepared via glycine nitrate combustion followed by ball milling and triple roll mill (TRM) machine to produce a homogeneous LCSO cathode ink. The prepared sample powder of LCSO is initially characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) fitted with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The XRD demonstrated that the prepared LCSO powder calcined at 800 °C shows a phase structure of rhombic lattice and space group of R-3m. The prepared ink is then layered on both sides of the samarium-doped-ceria (SDC) electrolyte to produce LCSO | SDC | LCSO symmetrical cell. The prepared ink has varied gap sizes on the TRM machine. The electrochemical performance of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy reports that the best gap size is at 40 µm with the lowest polarisation resistance (R_p), of 8.32 Ω. In conclusion, this work confirms the importance of a high-quality lithium-based cathode ink in SOFC applications.

Keywords: solid oxide fuel cell, cathode, ink, lithium, triple roll mill

Abstrak

Sel fuel oksida pepejal (SOFC) boleh dikategorikan sebagai teknologi pembebasan karbon rendah dalam menjana tenaga elektik. Pemilihan bahan katod yang sesuai dan serasi untuk digunakan bersama dengan elektrolit ionik dan protonik adalah penting dalam mencapai prestasi SOFC bersuhu sederhana-rendah (IT-LT SOFC) yang baik. LiCo_0.6Sr_0.4O₂ (LCSO) telah disediakan mengikut stoikiometri menggunakan pembakaran glisin nitrat diikuti dengan pengisaran bebola dan pengisaran tiga penggelek untuk menghasilkan dakwat katod LCSO yang homogen. Serbuk sampel LCSO yang disediakan pada mulanya dicirikan menggunakan pembelauan sinar-X (XRD) dan mikroskop elektron pengimbasan (SEM) yang dipasang dengan spektroskopi sinar-X penyebaran tenaga (EDX). Hasil dapatan XRD menunjukkan kalsin serbuk katod LCSO yang disediakan pada 800 °C menunjukkan struktur fasa kekisi Rhombo dan kumpulan ruang R-3m Dakwat yang disediakan kemudiannya disapukan pada kedua-dua belah elektrolit samarium terdop seria (SDC) untuk menghasilkan sel simetri LCSO | SDC | LCSO. Dakwat yang disediakan dipelbagaikan saiz celah mesin gulung tiga. Daripada prestasi elektrokimia spektroskopi impedans elektrokimia (EIS) melaporkan bahawa saiz celah terbaik adalah pada 40 µm dengan rintangan polarisasi terendah, R_p 8.32 Ω Kesimpulannya, kajian ini mengesahkan kepentingan dakwat katod berasaskan litium berkualiti tinggi dalam aplikasi SOFC.

Kata kunci: sel fuel oksida pepejal, katod, dakwat, litium, pengisar tiga penggelek

Graphical Abstract

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