La0.4Sr0.6Co0.8Fe0.2O3-δ / Ce0.9Gd0.1O2-δ Interface: Characterization by High Resolution SEM and TEM

SOLDATI, ANALIA L.; BAQUÉ, LAURA; TROIANI, HORACIO; COTARO, C.; SCHREIBER, ANJA; CANEIRO, ALBERTO; SERQUIS, ADRIANA C.

ECS Transactions

Electrochemical Society

Lugar: Montreal; Año: 2011 vol. 35 p. 657 - 664

1938-5862

In this work we successfully applied a FIB/lift-out technique to prepare site-specific thin samples containing the cathode/electrolyte interface between two La0.4Sr0.6Co0.8Fe0.2O3-δ (LSCF) / Ce0.9Gd0.1O2-δ (CGO) half cells. Despite different cathode thickness (15 μm and a 5 μm), both samples presented similar composition and nano-sized structure. However, an exhaustivemicroscopic analysis by SEM and TEM at high resolution modes, revealed that the 15 μm sample presented a perfectly attached interface, while the other showed pores at the interfacial boundary, decreasing the real LSCF/CGO contact and increasing the area specific resistance. The presented combined techniques are a powerful tool to investigate subtle microstructural changes that may occur in the electrolyte/electrode interface and are adequate for studying changes after long term operation conditions.