Electrospun vs. powdered perovskite air-electrodes for applications in IT-SOCs: a total scattering investigation.

Mixed ionic-electronic conductors (MIECs) are promising air-electrode materials for Solid Oxide Fuel and Electrolysis Cells (SOFCs and SOECs, respectively). (La,Sr)(Co,Fe)O3-d (LSCF) and (Ba,Sr)(Co,Fe)O3-d (BSCF) systems are considered as state-of-the-art materials for solid oxide cells working at intermediate temperature (IT-SOCs); however, due to problems related to Co toxicity and its supplying, the search for alternative Co-free perovskites is crucial. Recently we undertook a study on the BSCuF system, both in the form of nanofibers and micrometric powders, respectively obtained through electrospinning and sol-gel processes. We propose to collect total scattering data on La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3–δ, as reference material, and on five different samples of the BSCuF system, both as powders and nanofibers, with the final aim to gain a deeper understanding of the structure at the local scale and correlate it with the electrochemical behaviour of the corresponding cathodes.