Sergey Ya. Istomin, O. M. Karakulina, M. G. Rozova, S. M. Kazakov, A. A. Gippius, E. V. Antipov, I. A. Bobrikov, A. M. Balagurov, Alexander A. Tsirlin, A. Michau, J. J. Biendicho, G. Svensson
- Novel Pr2−xSrxNi1−xCoxO4±δ (x = 0.25; 0.5; 0.75) oxides with the tetragonal K2NiF4-type structure have been prepared. Room-temperature neutron powder diffraction (NPD) study of x = 0.25 and 0.75 phases together with iodometric titration results have shown the formation of hyperstoichiometric oxide for x = 0.25 (δ = 0.09(2)) and a stoichiometric one for x = 0.75. High-temperature X-ray powder diffraction (HT XRPD) showed substantial anisotropy of the thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) along the a- and c-axis of the crystal structure, which increases with increasing the Co content from TEC(c)/TEC(a) = 2.4 (x = 0.25) to 4.3 (x = 0.75). High-temperature NPD (HT NPD) study of the x = 0.75 sample reveals that a very high expansion of the axial (Ni/Co)–O bonds (75.7 ppm K−1 in comparison with 9.1 ppm K−1 for equatorial ones) is responsible for such behaviour, and is caused by a temperature-induced transition between low- and high-spin states of Co3+. This scenario has been confirmed byNovel Pr2−xSrxNi1−xCoxO4±δ (x = 0.25; 0.5; 0.75) oxides with the tetragonal K2NiF4-type structure have been prepared. Room-temperature neutron powder diffraction (NPD) study of x = 0.25 and 0.75 phases together with iodometric titration results have shown the formation of hyperstoichiometric oxide for x = 0.25 (δ = 0.09(2)) and a stoichiometric one for x = 0.75. High-temperature X-ray powder diffraction (HT XRPD) showed substantial anisotropy of the thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) along the a- and c-axis of the crystal structure, which increases with increasing the Co content from TEC(c)/TEC(a) = 2.4 (x = 0.25) to 4.3 (x = 0.75). High-temperature NPD (HT NPD) study of the x = 0.75 sample reveals that a very high expansion of the axial (Ni/Co)–O bonds (75.7 ppm K−1 in comparison with 9.1 ppm K−1 for equatorial ones) is responsible for such behaviour, and is caused by a temperature-induced transition between low- and high-spin states of Co3+. This scenario has been confirmed by high-temperature magnetization measurements on a series of Pr2−xSrxNi1−xCoxO4±δ samples. For compositions with high Ni content (x = 0.25 and 0.5) we synthesised K2NiF4-type oxides Pr2−x−ySrx+y(Ni1−xCox)O4±δ, y = 0.0–0.75 (x = 0.25); y = 0.0–0.5 (x = 0.5). The studies of the TEC, high-temperature electrical conductivity in air, chemical stability of the prepared compounds in oxygen and toward interaction with Ce2−xGdxO2−x/2 (GDC) at high temperatures reveal optimal behaviour of Pr1.35Sr0.65Ni0.75Co0.25O4+δ. This compound shows stability in oxygen at 900 °C and does not react with GDC at least up to 1200 °C. It features low TEC of 13 ppm K−1 and high-temperature electrical conductivity in air of 280 S cm−1 at 900 °C, thus representing a promising composition for use as a cathode material in intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFC).…
