A novel route to synthesize nano-crystalline Ba_0.5Sr _0.5Co_0.8Fe_0.2O_3-δ perovskite oxide at high temperature

It is normally difficult to prepare nano-sized Ba_0.5Sr _0.5Co_0.8Fe_0.2O_3-δ(BSCF) oxide at high temperature due to its high surface activity. The complexing process, which has successfully applied in the synthesis of nano Sm_0.15Ce _0.85O_1.925 with crystallite size down to 5 nm¹, just resulted in a coarse BSCF with crystallite size of 41.9 nm at 900°C. We applied a novel process by simply modifying the solid precursor from the complexing process with concentrated nitric acid treatment. The obtained BSCF powder had a crystallite size of ∼25 nm even calcined at 1000°C. The small crystallite size is extremely promising to enhance the electrochemical performance of cathode for solid oxide fuel cell dramatically.