Investigation on LiCoO2 materials for MCFC alternative cathodes

The slow dissolution of lithiated-NiO cathode in molten carbonates is the main obstacle for the commercialization of molten carbonate fuel cell. The aim of the present work was to investigate the possibility to produce porous electrode based on lithium cobaltite materials. The powder samples were obtained by thermal decomposition of different precursors, in air. The synthesis was monitored by thermal analysis. The calcined and sintered powder samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction and atomic absorption spectroscopy. The porous electrodes were prepared, with different pore-formers, by cold pressing acid sintering. Electrical conductivity and thermopower were measured, The solubility in molten carbonates was determined. To test the performance of the materials under study, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements were carried out to investigate the porous electrode/molten carbonates interface. It resulted that magnesium doped lithium cobaltites had the best performance, which is very close to that one of lithium doped nickel oxide.