La1-xSrxCo1-y-zFeyNizO3 perovskites - possible new cathode materials for intermediate-temperature solid-oxide fuel cells

La1-xSrxCo1-y-zFeyNizO3 perovskites have been synthesized with hexagonal R-3c structures by a modified citric acid method and determined their structural and transport properties. Structural instabilities for samples with high Ni and Sr content heated to 1270 K were observed, leading to the appearance of secondary phases with spinel structures. Moessbauer studies revealed the presence of two different, clearly distinguishable surroundings of Fe ions, despite single crystallographic positions of iron ions. Low-temperature (77-300 K) dc conductivity and thermoelectric power measurements suggest an activated charge transport mechanism with the activation energy strongly dependent on the chemical composition of the material. Electrical conductivity as a function of temperature suggests the appearance of a hopping mechanism. The observed hightemperature (870-1070 K) dc electrical conductivity of La1-xSrxCo1-y-zFeyNizO3 samples is relatively high and strongly depends on chemical composition. It seems possible to optimise the transport properties of La1-xSrxCo1-y-zFeyNizO3 by chemical composition, which may lead to a new, attractive cathode material in terms of possible applications in intermediate -temperature solid-oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs).