Investigation of Electrode Kinetics of Porous La-Sr-Co-Fe-oxide (LSCF) Electrodes on Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) Electrolyte Using Alternating Current (AC) and Direct Current (DC) Methods

Lanthanum strontium cobalt iron oxide (LSCF) is commonly used as a cathode in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), because it is a mixed ionic-electronic conductor with reasonable oxygen ion conductivity and high electronic conductivity. Yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) is used as an electrolyte in SOFCs with good oxygen ion conductivity. AC techniques are used to test the performance of SOFCs. But electrode processes at the cathode and the anode cannot be studied separately using two-electrode electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). To overcome this problem, two-electrode EIS with three probes and DC tests were conducted. An LSCF/8YSZ/LSCF symmetrical bar-shaped cell was made, and platinum strip electrodes were applied as probes for EIS and DC measurements. Impedance spectra across the cathode and the platinum strip electrode and across the anode and the platinum strip electrode were measured separately. The sum was evaluated to see if it matches the EIS spectra across the cathode and the anode. The polarity was switched to study how it affects the electrode processes. The polarization resistances of the electrodes were also measured by a DC method separately. EIS and DC measurements are in good agreement. Results indicate the two electrodes need not be identical.