Oxidation Characteristics and Electrical Properties of Doped Mn-Co Spinel Reaction Layer for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Metal Interconnects

• Main Authors: Pingyi Guo, Yongbiao Lai, Yong Shao, Yu Zhang, Hang Sun, Yuxin Wang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2018-01-01
• Series: Coatings
• Subjects: copper; lanthanum; coating; in-situ oxidation; electrical properties
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/8/1/42

To prevent Cr poisoning of the cathode and to retain high conductivity during solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) operation, Cu or La doped Co-Mn coatings on a metallic interconnect is deposited and followed by oxidation at 750 °C. Microstructure and composition of coatings after preparation and oxidation is analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). High energy micro arc alloying process, a low cost technique, is used to prepare Cu or La doped Co-Mn coatings with the metallurgical bond. When coatings oxidized at 750 °C in air for 20 h and 100 h, Co3O4 is the main oxide on the surface of Co-38Mn-2La and Co-40Mn coatings, and (Co,Mn)3O4 spinel continues to grow with extended oxidation time. The outmost scales of Co-33Mn-17Cu are mainly composed of cubic MnCo2O4 spinel with Mn2O3 after oxidation for 20 h and 100 h. The average thickness of oxide coatings is about 60–70 μm after oxidation for 100 h, except that Co-40Mn oxide coatings are a little thicker. Area-specific resistance of Cu/La doped Co-Mn coatings are lower than that of Co-40Mn coating. (Mn,Co)3O4/MnCo2O4 spinel layer is efficient at blocking the outward diffusion of chromium and iron.