Structural and chemical evolution of transition metals and rare earths in electrodes for fuel cells prior and after operation.

Perovskite-based materials are being studied as elements (electrolyte and electro-catalyzer) for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) in the framework of the PE-NEST project. In this experiment some SOFC components (standard perovskites and Ruddlesden-Popper) will be analized in their pristine form and ex-situ after operation in a real cell. The valence state and local order around transition metals and rare earths contained in the perovskite will be analyzed and correlated to the chemical behavior of the material. Experiments will be carried out at the K edges of Ni, Co and Mn and the L3 edges of Gd, Ce, La.