LSM Cathodes Infiltrated With $Er2O3$ Stabilized $Bi2O3$

The $La0.8Sr0.2MnO3$ perovskite oxide (LSM) electrode was infiltrated with $Er2O3$ stabilized $Bi2O3$ (ESB) to improve the cathode performance of intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells. ESB infiltration was carried out by dropping the nitrate solution of $Bi(NO3)3$ and $Er(NO3)3$ (⁠$80:20mol$ ratio) on the LSM electrode surface prepared on yttria stabilized zirconia by screen-printing technique. The electrode performance of the infiltrated LSM electrode was studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis in open air. The EIS results showed that the electrode resistance was drastically decreased by the infiltration of $Bi(NO3)3–Er(NO3)3$ solution into the LSM electrode; the electrode resistance was as low as $2.31Ωcm2$ for the infiltration LSM cathode at $600°C$⁠, which was compared with $∼380Ωcm2$ for the noninfiltrated LSM cathode. The low electrode resistance could be explained by the formation of high oxide ion conductivity $Er2O3$-doped $Bi2O3$ on the LSM particles.