Vaporization of Sr- and Mg-doped lanthanum gallate and implications for solid oxide fuel cells

Vaporization of the La0.85Sr0.15Ga0.85Mg0.15O2.85, and La0.90Sr0.10Ga0.80M0.20O2.85 perovskite phases was investigated by the use of Knudsen effusion mass spectrometry in the temperature range of 1618-1886 K. The partial pressures of the gaseous species O-2, Mg, Sr, SrO, Ga, GaO, Ga2O, and LaO were determined over the samples investigated. The equilibrium partial pressures were used for the calculation of thermodynamic activities of the components at 1800 K. The results are compared with thermodynamic data of LaGaO3(s) without additives. Implications of the present data for the potential use of the material in solid oxide fuel cell technology are discussed as well. (C) 2001 The Electrochemical Society.