Electrochemical investigation of La0.4Sr0.6TiO3 synthesized in air for SOFC application

La-doped titanate materials have been widely investigated as alternative Ni-free anodes for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). In this study, La0.4Sr0.6TiO3 (LST) was synthesized using the solid-state reaction method and calcined in air. A three-electrode mode was applied to measure the electrochemical performance of LST-yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) composite anode by testing its impedance spectra and the anode overpotential. The electrochemical behavior is strongly dependent on the sintering temperature and the YSZ content. The lowest polarization resistance of 0.26 Ω cm2 in 97% H2/3% H2O was obtained on the anode sintered at 1350 °C when adding 60 wt% YSZ. The cell with the LST–YSZ anode was operated at 10,000 ppm H2S-H2 at 850 °C for more than 10 h, and it exhibited excellent sulfur-tolerant ability. The LST–YSZ anode sintered in air instead of reducing condition is probably a potential anode material for SOFCs. The electrochemical performance of LST–YSZ anode depends strongly on the YSZ content and the calcination temperature tested by overpotential in a three-electrode mode.