Elsevier, Solid State Ionics, (274), p. 134-139, 2015
DOI: 10.1016/j.ssi.2015.03.030
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Pr2NiO4 + δ was wet infiltrated into porous LSGM scaffolds to form solid oxide cell oxygen electrodes on LSGM-electrolyte symmetrical cells. The minimum calcination temperature required to form this nickelate phase was between 950 °C and 1000 °C. X-ray diffraction measurements of electrodes tested at 650 °C showed little evidence of any phase change, in contrast to 650 °C annealed Pr2NiO4 + δ powders that decomposed to Pr4Ni3O10 and Pr6O11. Polarization resistance followed an Arrhenius temperature dependence with an activation barrier of 1.40 eV, and a value as low as 0.11 Ω ∙ cm2 was observed at 650 °C for a Pr2NiO4 + δ loading of 14 vol.%. The present resistance values appear to be the lowest reported to date for a Ruddlesden–Popper phase electrode, and are competitive with perovskite-structure electrodes. The low resistance, combined with the good stability of infiltrated Pr2NiO4 + δ and the advantages of being Co- and Sr-free, make this an exciting new contender for intermediate-temperature solid oxide cell applications.