Thickness Dependence of Oxygen Reduction Reaction Kinetics on Strontium-Substituted Lanthanum Manganese Perovskite Thin-Film Microelectrodes

Abstract

Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) kinetics was investigated on dense La₀.₈Sr₀.₂MnO₃ microelectrodes as a function of temperature and microelectrode thickness using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The surface oxygen exchange and mixed bulk/three-phase-boundary (TPB) charge transfer process were found to control ORR kinetics at high and low temperatures, respectively. The transition temperature from the mixed bulk/TPB charge transfer control to surface oxygen exchange was found to be highly dependent on the microelectrode thickness (~600degrees C for 65 nm vs ~800degreesC for 705 nm). These findings can be used to guide the design of electrodes that can operate at intermediate temperatures.