Oxidation properties of the Crofer 22 APU steel coated with La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3 for IT-SOFC interconnect applications

Abstract

The La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3 (LSCF48) cathode material was used as a protective-conducting coating on an interconnect made of Crofer 22 APU ferritic steel intended for application in intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cell (IT-SOFC) stacks. The LSCF48 coating was deposited on the surface of the steel via screen-printing followed by appropriate thermal treatment. The oxidation kinetics of the Crofer 22 APU steel—uncoated and coated with LSCF48—approximately obeys the parabolic rate law in air at 1,073 K under isothermal and cyclic oxidation conditions. The oxidation rate for uncoated steel is higher than that for coated steel. SEM–EDS and XRD investigations showed that the LSCF48 coating interacts with the steel during long-term oxidation in the afore-mentioned thermal conditions, and an intermediate multilayer interfacial zone is formed. This intermediate layer leads to lower area specific resistance in air at 1,073 K in comparison to the Crofer 22 APU steel without surface modification.