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Synthesis of Mg doped LaCrO₃ Nano Powders by Sol-Gel Process for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) Application

Pages: 99-106

M. Ghouse†, A. Al-Musa, Y. Al-Yousef, and M. F. Al-Otaibi

Energy Research Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), PO. Box. 6086, Riyadh 11442, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Received: April 13, 2009, Accepted: January 20, 2010

Abstract:

Magnesium doped lanthanum chromate (LaCrO3) nano ceramic powders were prepared using Sol-Gel process for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) applications. This powder is considered as interconnect material for SOFC application. This interconnect powder was prepared using La(NO3)3·6H2O, 4MgCO3·Mg(OH)2·5H2O, (NH4)2Cr2O7 and Cr(NO3)3·9H2O chemicals in which the chelating agent was citric acid and the dispersant agent was ethylene glycol. While physical Characterization for the powders was carried out using SEM / EDS, XRD techniques, TGA and DTA techniques were used for thermal characterization. The SEM images reveal that the particle size of La0.7Mg0.3CrO3 powders achieved by Sol-Gel process is in the range of ~50-200nm. The EDS study indicates that the carbon content is high in the as prepared powders comparing to the calcined powders. The powders prepared using (NH4)2Cr2O7 is more cost effective than using Cr(NO3)3·9H2O since it also acts as fuel. The XRD analysis reveal the presence of La0.7Mg0.3CrO3 and MgCr2O4 phases. The TGA plots depict that there is no further weight loss after reaching the temperatures 350^oC and 575^oC for the LMC gels prepared using AD and Cr-N respectively indicating the complete combustion and obtaining oxide phases.

Keywords:

Sol-Gel, Ammonium dichromate (AD) , Chromium nitrate (Cr-N), Interconnect, XRD, TGA and DTA.