La_0.8Ca_0.2CrO₃ Interconnect Materials for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: Combustion Synthesis and Reduced-Temperature Sintering

Sub-micrometer $La_{0.8}Ca_{0.2}CrO_3$ powders for ceramic interconnects of solid oxide fuel cells were synthesized by the aqueous combustion process. The materials were prepared from the precursor solutions with different glycine (fuel)-to-nitrate (oxidant) ratios (${\phi}$). Single-phase $La_{0.8}Ca_{0.2}CrO_3$ powders with a perovskite structure were obtained after combustion when ${\phi}$ was equal to or larger than 0.480. Especially, the stoichiometric precursor with ${\phi}$ = 0.555 yielded the spherical $La_{0.8}Ca_{0.2}CrO_3$ particles with 150-250 nm diameters after calcination at $1000^{\circ}C$. When compared with the powders synthesized by the solid-state reaction, the combustion-derived, fine powders exhibited improved sinterability, leading to near-full densification at $1400^{\circ}C$ in oxidizing atmospheres. Moreover, a small quantity of glass additives was used to reduce the sintering temperature, and considerable densification was indeed achieved at temperatures as low as $1100^{\circ}C$.