An investigation on the behavior of manganese cobaltite spinel oxide as the SOFC interconnect coating materials

In this study, Manganese cobaltite (MnCo2O4) spinel powders were synthesized by co-precipitation method. X ray diffraction (XRD) patterns show that the spinel phase was formed at around 350°C. Formation of spinel phase was further completed by increasing temperature up to 1000°C. Additionally, XRD patterns prove that MnCo2O4 spinel material has been stable in this temperature range. Field emission scanning electron microscope observations show that plate like particles with an average diameter of 148 and thickness of 18 nm was converted to equiaxed particles with an average particle size of 1.5 µm by increasing calcination temperature from 350 to 1000°C. Investigation of the coating of uncalcined and calcined powder on AISI 430 ferritic stainless steel shows that a proper dense coating is developed on the stainless steel surface by using uncalcined precursor powders. And also, this coating performs well by prohibiting of outward diffusion of Fe from the substrate. In this way, a low thickness chromia layer (Cr2O3) is formed between the coating and the substrate. EDX analysis shows that a mixed spinel zone is formed in the interface of the coating and the substrate due to diffusion of some elements such as Mn, Cr, and Fe from substrate to the coating, as well as Mn and Co from coating to the substrate.