Performance of LiCoO{sub 2} cathodes, prepared using the Pechini method, in molten carbonate fuel cells

Journal Article · Tue Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1997 · Journal of the Electrochemical Society

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1149/1.1837807· OSTI ID:533108

Tennakoon, T M.T.N.; Lindbergh, G; Bergman, B ^[1]

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1. Royal Inst. of Tech., Stockholm (Sweden)

The Pechini method has successfully been used to fabricate a high-purity, ultrafine, homogeneous LiCoO{sub 2} powder. The powder has been used to cast tapes together with a plastic pore former. Sintered tapes show a bimodal pore size distribution comparable to that of state-of-the-art NiO cathodes and a homogeneous distribution of the pores throughout the tape. It is also shown that total porosity can be changed while retaining approximately the same pore size distribution using different sintering temperatures. Cell characterization, in a 3 cm{sup 2} lab cell, was performed on three cathodes sintered at 850, 900, and 950 C with total porosity ranging from 57 to 69%. It is concluded that (i) the selected chemical powder preparation technique provides pure, stable LiCoO{sub 2} with high surface area and high electrical and conductivity and (ii) the cathode sintered at 900 C possesses a compromise of both phase purity, maximum possible porosity, and particle size, and hence gives a cathode polarization of 88 mV for 160 mA/cm{sup 2} at 650 C under optimum electrolyte content, which is comparable to state-of-the-art lithiated NiO. However, the voltage loss due to the interface resistance between current collector and electrode is on the order of 100 mV, which leads to a less advantageous total cathode performance.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 533108
• Journal Information: Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Journal Name: Journal of the Electrochemical Society Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 144; ISSN 0013-4651; ISSN JESOAN
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
CATHODES
COBALT OXIDES
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
FABRICATION
LITHIUM OXIDES
MOLTEN CARBONATE FUEL CELLS
PERFORMANCE
PORE STRUCTURE
POROSITY
SURFACE AREA