Behavior of manganite electrodes in contact with LSGM electrolyte: the nature of low electrochemical activity

The electrochemical cells with electrodes based on La_0.8Sr_0.2MnO₃ (LSM) and supporting solid electrolytes La_0.88Sr_0.12Ga_0.82Mg_0.18O_2.85 (LSGM) and Ce_0.80Sm_0.20O_1.90 (SDC) were studied comparatively. Characteristics of LSM electrodes and composite electrodes comprising a mixture of LSM and electrolytes of different origins LSGM, SDC, and Zr_0.82Sc_0.18O_1.91 (SSZ) in the mass ratio of 1:1] were analyzed. It was shown that: 1) the electrode polarization conductivity and the ohmic resistance of the cells with the LSM–LSGM composite electrodes on the LSGM and SDC electrolytes had very similar values, while they were largely different from all the other electrodes, 2) the electrochemical activity of the electrodes on the SDC electrolyte was much higher than on the LSGM electrolyte, and 3) the ohmic resistance of the cells with the SDC electrolyte corresponded to the electrolyte resistance, whereas, the ohmic resistance of the cells with the LSGM electrolyte was much larger than the electrolyte resistance. The obtained results are due to the interaction between the LSM and LSM-containing electrodes with the LSGM electrolyte during sintering, leading to the formation of a product with a very low conductivity.