Microwave-assisted Sintering of BaFe0.8Cu0.1Ni0.1O3-δ Composition for Use as Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Cathode

In this research, BaFe0.8Cu0.1Ni0.1O3-δ powder microwave-assisted solid state reaction synthesized and then sintered at microwave furnace. For characterization of synthetic powders, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and powder density using gas pycnometer method and for sintered samples, density and open porosity percentage, scanning electron microscopy and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) were performed. The results showed that powder was synthesized by microwaveassisted solid state reaction at 1000oC without soaking time and the obtained powder had tetragonal structure and mono-phase and its density was 5.43g/cm3. Furthermore, as the temperature of sintering samples in microwave was increasing, the percentage of open porosity increased and the percentage of relative density decreased. Scanning electron microscope images demonstrated variety diameters of needles which their composition were comparable to their section of samples according to Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) analysis.