Narottam P. Bansal and Brent Wise

Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio

Sol-Gel Synthesis of La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-x and 

Sm0.5Sr0.5CoO3-x Cathode Nanopowders for

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells 

NASA/TM—2011-217222

December 2011
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Narottam P. Bansal and Brent Wise

Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio

Sol-Gel Synthesis of La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-x and 

Sm0.5Sr0.5CoO3-x Cathode Nanopowders for

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells 

NASA/TM—2011-217222

December 2011

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

Glenn Research Center

Cleveland, Ohio 44135
Acknowledgments

Thanks are due to John Setlock for DSC-TGA and to Ralph Garlick for x-ray diffraction analysis. This work was supported by 

NASA’s Subsonic Fixed Wing Project of the Fundamental Aeronautics Program. Brent Wise was a co-op student from

Case Western Reserve University at NASA Glenn Research Center during the time this work was carried out.

Available from

NASA Center for Aerospace Information

7115 Standard Drive

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Available electronically at http://www.sti.nasa.gov

This work was sponsored by the Fundamental Aeronautics Program 

at the NASA Glenn Research Center.

Level of Review: This material has been technically reviewed by technical management. 
NASA/TM—2011-217222 1 

Sol-Gel Synthesis of La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-x and Sm0.5Sr0.5CoO3-x

Cathode Nanopowders for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells 

Narottam P. Bansal and Brent Wise 

National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

Glenn Research Center 

Cleveland, Ohio 44135 

Abstract 

Nanopowders of La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-x (LSC) and Sm0.5Sr0.5CoO3-x (SSC) compositions, which are being 

investigated as cathode materials for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFC) with 

La(Sr)Ga(Mg)O3-x (LSGM) as the electrolyte, were synthesized by low-temperature sol-gel method using 

metal nitrates and citric acid. Thermal decomposition of the citrate gels was followed by simultaneous 

DSC/TGA methods. Development of phases in the gels, on heat treatments at various temperatures, was 

monitored by x-ray diffraction. Sol-gel powders calcined at 550 to 1000 C consisted of a number of 

phases. Single perovskite phase La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-x or Sm0.5Sr0.5CoO3-x powders were obtained at 1200 and 

1300 C, respectively. Morphological analysis of the powders calcined at various temperatures was done 

by scanning electron microscopy. The average particle size of the powders was ~15 nm after 700 C 

calcinations and slowly increased to 70 to 100 nm after heat treatments at 1300 to 1400 C. 

Introduction 

A fuel cell is an electrochemical device which continuously converts chemical energy of a fuel 

directly into electrical energy. A fuel cell consists of an electrolyte, an anode and a cathode. Various types 

of fuel cells are available such as direct methanol fuel cell, alkaline fuel cell, proton exchange membrane 

fuel cell, phosphoric acid fuel cell, molten carbonate fuel cell, and solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). The 

salient features of SOFC are all solid construction, high-temperature electrochemical reaction based 

operation, resulting in clean and efficient power generation from a variety of fuels. Solid oxide fuel cells 

(Ref. 1) are being developed for a broad range of applications such as in portable electronic devices, 

automobiles, power generation, auxiliary power units and electric propulsion in aeronautics, etc. 

Doped lanthanum cobaltites La1-xSrxCoO3-y and samarium cobaltites Sm1-xSrxCoO3-y show mixed 

ionic-electronic conduction and high catalytic reactivities for oxygen reduction. For example, the 

electronic conductivity of La1-xSrxCoO3-y is greater than 1000 S/cm at 800 °C, while the ionic 

conductivity is between 0.1 and 1 S/cm (Ref. 3). Among others, La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-x (LSC) and 

Sm0.5Sr0.5CoO3-x (SSC) perovskites have attracted attention as cathode materials for intermediate 

temperature SOFC with La(Sr)Ga(Mg)O3-y (LSGM) electrolyte. LSC is also used in a number of other 

applications such as gas sensors, oxygen catalyst, and ferroelectric random access memories. High quality 

Sm1-xSrxCoO3-y and La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-x powders are needed for various applications. A number of chemical 

approaches such as, solid state calcination, combustion synthesis (Ref. 4), ultrasonic spray pyrolysis 

(Ref. 5), sol-gel (Ref. 6), freeze drying, co-precipitation, hydrothermal, etc. have been generally utilized 

for ceramic powder processing. However, the sol-gel method has not been used for synthesis of LSC and 

SSC powders. 

The primary objective of this study was the synthesis of Sm1-xSrxCoO3-y and La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-x

perovskite nanopowders by the low-temperature citric acid sol-gel approach. Thermal decomposition 

behavior of the gel was investigated by DSC-TGA method. Development of crystalline phases on heat 

treatments of the gel at various temperatures was followed by X-ray diffraction. Morphology of the 

powders was also characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). 
NASA/TM—2011-217222 2 

Experimental Methods 

Powder Synthesis 

The starting materials used in the synthesis were reagent grade metal nitrates Sm(NO3)3.6H2O, 

Sr(NO3)2, Co(NO3)2.6H2O, La(NO3)3.6H2O and citric acid C6H8O7.H2O from Alfa Aesar. A flow chart 

showing the various steps involved in the synthesis of powders by the sol-gel process is shown in 

Figure 1. Appropriate quantities of the metal nitrates, to yield 100 g of the final SSC or LSC oxide 

powder, were dissolved in deionized water. Calculated amount of citric acid, 1.5 moles per mole of metal 

nitrate, was also dissolved in deionized water. The citric acid solution was slowly added to the metal 

nitrate aqueous solution under constant stirring. The resulting clear and transparent red colored solution 

was heated at 80 C for several hours. The solution became increasingly viscous due to polymerization 

reaction and slowly changed to resin like consistency. Dark brown nitrous oxide fumes were also formed 

from the decomposition of nitric acid which was produced by the reaction of metal nitrates with citric 

acid. The gel was calcined at 300 C for ~15 hr when it converted into black powder. No change was 

apparent in the gel after further heat treatment at 550 C for 20 hr in air. Small portions (~1 g) of this 

powder were heat treated in air at various temperatures between 700 and 1500 C for 1 hr to study the 

development of crystalline phases. 

Characterization 

Simultaneous differential scanning calorimetry and thermal gravimetric analysis (DSC-TGA) of the 

gel were carried out using Netzsch STA 409C system which was interfaced with computerized data 

acquisition and analysis system at a scan rate of 10 C/min in air. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) 

patterns were recorded at room temperature using a step scan procedure (0.02/2θ step, time per step 

0.5 or 1 s) in the 2θ range 10 to 70 on a Philips ADP-3600 automated diffractometer equipped with a 

crystal monochromator employing copper Kα radiation. Microstructural analysis was carried out using a 

JEOL JSM-840A scanning electron microscope (SEM). Prior to analysis, a thin layer of Pt or carbon was 

evaporated onto the SEM specimens for electrical conductivity. 

Results and Discussion 

Thermal Analyses of Gels 

Figure 2 shows the DSC/TGA curves recorded at a heating rate of 10 C/min in air from room 

temperature to 1200 C for the pink SSC resin obtained during sol-gel synthesis. Similar results were 

obtained for the LSC composition and will not be reported here. A small endothermic peak at ~115 C is 

present in DTA which is accompanied by a small weight loss of ~2 percent due to the evaporation of 

residual absorbed and hydrated water. Between 130 to ~375 C, several strong exothermic peaks are 

present in the DTA. Each exothermic event is accompanied by weight loss step in the TGA. These 

exothermic events are probably associated with the combustion and/or oxidative decomposition of the 

various metal citrate chelates, excess citric acid and other organic residuals. The small exotherm at 

~475 C is probably due to the crystallization of the complex oxide SmCoO3 through the reaction of 

samarium and cobalt oxides formed from the decomposition of metal chelates. This is supported by the 

fact that this exotherm is not accompanied by any weight loss event in the TGA. On heat treatment, 

strontium citrate chelate is first converted into SrCO3. Part of this SrCO3 reacts with samarium and cobalt 

oxides to form complex metal oxide phases. The unreacted residual SrCO3 decomposes into SrO at higher 

temperatures as indicated by a small endothermic peak at ~900 C in DTA. The total loss of sample 

weight up to 1200 C is 73 percent. 
NASA/TM—2011-217222 3 

Phase Formation and Microstructure Analysis 

X-ray diffraction patterns of LSC and SSC gels after thermal treatments at various temperatures from 

550 to 1400 C are shown in Figures 3 and 4, respectively. The results for the development of crystalline 

phases as a function of heat treatments are summarized in Table I. After calcination at 550 C, the pink 

LSC resin decomposed into La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-x, Co3O4, SrCO3 whereas Co3O4, SmCoO3, and SrCO3 were 

formed in the SSC system. Small unknown peaks were also present in both systems. After heating at 

700 C, no additional phase was observed in the LSC system, whereas Sm0.5Sr0.5CoO3-x, SrCO3, and 

Co3O4 phases were detected in the SSC system. On heat treatment at 900 C, SrCO3 which was formed at 

lower temperatures, decomposed to SrO and reacted with other oxides to form SrLaCoO4 or Sr3Co2O6. 

The phases present after 1000 C treatment were La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-x and SrLaCoO4 in LSC system and 

Sm0.5Sr0.5CoO3-x, Sr3Co2O6, Co3O4 in the SSC system. On heat treatment at 1200 C, only Perovskite 

phase-pure La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-x was detected in the LSC system whereas the SSC system still consisted of 

Sm0.5Sr0.5CoO3-x and Sr3Co2O6. The SSC powder converted to Perovskite phase-pure Sm0.5Sr0.5CoO3-x

only after heat treatment at 1300 C. 

After each thermal treatment, the average particle size was evaluated from X-ray line broadening 

using the Scherrer formula (Ref. 7): 

  B B t  0.9 / cos (1) 

where t is the average particle size, λ the wave length of copper Kα radiation, B is the width (in radian) of 

the XRD diffraction peak at half its maximum intensity, and θB the Bragg diffraction angle of the line. 

Correction for the line broadening by the instrument was applied utilizing a large particle size silicon 

standard and the equation: 

2 2 2 B  BM  BS (2) 

where BM and BS are the measured widths, at half maximum intensity, of the lines from the sample and the 

standard, respectively. Values of average grain sizes of the as synthesized SSC and LSC powders and of 

those after heat treatments at various temperatures are summarized Table I. The average particle size of 

the powders was ~15 nm after 700 C calcinations and slowly increased to 70 to 100 nm after heat 

treatments at 1300 to 1400 C. The X-ray line broadening method can be used only for the size 

determination of small crystallites (~100 nm). Besides, the values obtained are not the real particle size, 

but the average size of coherently diffracting domains; the latter being usually much smaller than the 

actual size of the particles. The size of both SSC and LSC powders obtained in the present study was 

similar to those processed earlier by the solution combustion synthesis method (Ref. 4). 

The SEM micrographs of La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-x and Sm0.5Sr0.5CoO3-x powders prepared by sol-gel synthesis 

after thermal treatments at 550 C for 20 hr, 1000 C for 1 hr, and 1200 C for 1h in air are shown in 

Figures 5 and 6, respectively. The as-synthesized powders as well as those after heat treatment at 550 C 

were highly porous and quite small in size. The particle size increased with increase in heat treatment 

temperature. Heat treatment at 1200 C resulted in large grain growth and densification of both the 

powders. 
NASA/TM—2011-217222 4 

Summary and Conclusions 

Nano-powders of La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-x and Sm0.5Sr0.5CoO3-x compositions have been synthesized by lowtemperature sol-gel process. Thermal decomposition of the gels was followed by simultaneous DSC/TGA 

methods. X-ray diffraction was used to follow the development of crystalline phases on heat treatments of 

the gel powders at various temperatures. Powders calcined at 550 to 1000 C consisted of a number of 

phases. Powders containing single perovskite phase La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-x or Sm0.5Sr0.5CoO3-x were obtained at 

1200 and 1300 C, respectively. Morphological analysis of the powders calcined at various temperatures 

was done by scanning electron microscopy. The average particle size of the 700 C calcined powders was 

~15 nm which slowly increased to 70 to 100 nm after heat treatments at 1300 to 1400 C. 

References 

1. N.Q. Minh, Ceramic Fuel Cells, J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 76 [3], 563-588 (1993). 

2. F. Licci, G. Turilli, P. Ferro, and A. Ciccarone, Low-Temperature Synthesis and Properties of 

LaMnO3±d and La0.67R0.33MnO3±d (R = Ca, Sr, Ba) from Citrate Precursors, J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 86[3] 

413-419 (2003). 

3. S. Uhlenbruck and F. Tietz, High Temperature Thermal expansion and Conductivity of Cobaltites: 

Potentials for Adoptation of the Thermal Expansion to the Demands for SOFCs,” Mater. Sci. Eng. 

B107[3], 277-282 (2004). 

4. N.P. Bansal and Z. Zhong, Combustion Synthesis of Sm0.5Sr0.5CoO3-x and La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-x 

Nanopowders for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Cathodes, J. Power Sources, 158[1], 148-153 (2006). 

5. E. Djurado and M. Labeau, Second Phases in Doped Lanthanum Gallate Perovskites, J. Eur. Ceram. 

Soc., 18, 1397-1404 (1998). 

6. R. Polini, A. Falsetti and E. Traversa, Sol-Gel Synthesis and Characterization of Co-Doped LSGM 

Perovskites, J. Eur. Ceram. Soc., 25, 2593-2598 (2005). 

7. B.D. Cullity, Elements of X-Ray Diffraction, second ed., Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA, 1978, 

p. 284. 
NASA/TM—2011-217222 5 

TABLE I.—X-RAY DIFFRACTION ANALYSIS OF Sm0.5Sr0.5CoO3-x and La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-x SOL-GEL 

NANOPOWDERS AFTER VARIOUS HEAT TREATMENTS 

System Heat treatment Crystalline phasesa

 Average 

particle size 

(nm)b Temp. (C) Time (h) 

La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-x 550 20 La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-x, Co3O4, SrCO3, unknown peak at 

d = 0.318 nm and few other small peaks 

-- 

700 1 La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-x, Co3O4, SrCO3, unknown peaks at 

d = 0.318, 0.326 nm 

15 

900 1 La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-x, SrLaCoO4, Co3O4, unknown low 

intensity peaks at d = 0.181, 0.351 nm 

23 

1000 1 La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-x, SrLaCoO4, unknown very low 

intensity peaks at d = 0.247, 0.354 nm 

29 

1200 1 La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-x 60 

1300 1 La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-x 50 

1400 1 La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-x 70 

Sm0.5Sr0.5CoO3-x 550 20 Co3O4, SmCoO3, SrCO3, unknown peak 

700 1 Sm0.5Sr0.5CoO3-x, SrCO3, Co3O4, unknown peaks at 

d = 0.317, 0.337 nm 

15 

900 1 Sm0.5Sr0.5CoO3-x, Sr3Co2O6, Co3O4, unknown peaks 

at d = 0.138, 0.183, 0.305, 0.357 nm 

15 

1000 1 Sm0.5Sr0.5CoO3-x, Sr3Co2O6, Co3O4, same unknown 

peaks as at 900 °C 

15 

1200 1 Sm0.5Sr0.5CoO3-x, Sr3Co2O6, unknown peak at 

d = 0.158 nm 

27 

1300 1 Sm0.5Sr0.5CoO3-x 100 a

Phases in decreasing order of peak intensity

b

Calculated from Scherrer formula using FWHM of XRD peak in 47 to 48 2θ range. 
NASA/TM—2011-217222 6 
NASA/TM—2011-217222 7 
NASA/TM—2011-217222 8 
NASA/TM—2011-217222 9 
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Sol-Gel Synthesis of La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-x and Sm0.5Sr0.5CoO3-x Cathode Nanopowders for Solid 

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14. ABSTRACT

Nanopowders of La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-x (LSC) and Sm0.5Sr0.5CoO3-x (SSC) compositions, which are being investigated as cathode materials for 

intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFC) with La(Sr)Ga(Mg)O3-x (LSGM) as the electrolyte, were synthesized by lowtemperature sol-gel method using metal nitrates and citric acid. Thermal decomposition of the citrate gels was followed by simultaneous 

DSC/TGA methods. Development of phases in the gels, on heat treatments at various temperatures, was monitored by x-ray diffraction. Solgel powders calcined at 550 to 1000 °C consisted of a number of phases. Single perovskite phase La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-x or Sm0.5Sr0.5CoO3-x

powders were obtained at 1200 and 1300 °C, respectively. Morphological analysis of the powders calcined at various temperatures was done 

by scanning electron microscopy. The average particle size of the powders was ~15 nm after 700 °C calcinations and slowly increased to 70 

to 100 nm after heat treatments at 1300 to 1400 °C. 

15. SUBJECT TERMS

Solix oxide fuel cells; Cathodes; Powder processing; Nanomaterials; Electronic ceramics 

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