LaCoO3 – δ as the Material of an Oxygen Electrode for a Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell: I. Electrophysical Properties of Lithiated LaCoO3 – δ

Abstract

Oxides LaCoO_{3 – δ} + (z/2) Li₂O (0 ≤ z ≤ 0.15) are synthesized to determine the boundaries of changing the electrophysical properties of LaCoO_{3 – δ} due to its in situ lithiation in the (Li_0.62K_0.38)₂CO₃ eutectic melt. A perovskite-like solid solution (La_{1 – x}Li_x)(Li_xCo_{1 – x})O_{3 – δ}, where x = z/(z + 2), is found to form as a result of Li doping. The region of existence of the solution does not exceed 2x = 0.072. At a higher concentration of Li, LiCoO₂ forms along with the perovskite-like phase. At the operating temperature of the carbonate fuel cell (T = 920 K), the single-phase samples have metallic conduction and positive thermopower. The electrical conductivity of the Li-doped samples decreases as compared to that of LaCoO_{3 – δ} by no more than 1.5 times and varies from 3.2 × 10⁴ to 3.8 × 10⁴ S/m.