Patent ID: 8124037

Claim:
A method for making an LSCF composition of the general type La 1−x−2z Sr x+z Co 0.2+a Fe 0.8+b O 3−δ comprising the steps of: a) combining amounts of La 2 O 3 , SrCO 3 , CoCO 3 , and Fe 2 O 3 to form a mixture thereof, said amounts being appropriate to forming said LSCF composition having predetermined values of x, z, a, and b; b) first ball milling said mixture for about twelve hours in a first wet medium selected from the group consisting of water, an alcohol, and combinations thereof, to form a slurry; c) drying said slurry at a temperature between about 105° C. and about 120° C. to form a dried mixture; d) first calcining said dried mixture at about 800° C. for about one hour; e) second ball milling said dried mixture of step d to form a first dry powder having a mean particle size of about 1.0 μm; f) second calcining said first dry powder for between about one half hour and about three hours at a temperature between about 1100° C. and about 1400° C.; g) third ball milling said first dry powder of step f in a second wet medium to form said LSCF composition; and h) drying said LSCF composition of step g.