La_xCa_1-xCr oxide (Custom Composition)

Calcium-doped lanthanum chromate (La1-xCaxCrO3) is the original ceramic interconnect material of the solid oxide fuel cell industry, engineered to do something almost no other oxide can: conduct electrons efficiently while surviving simultaneous exposure to oxidising air on one face and reducing fuel gas on the other. Infinita Materials supplies this perovskite as a fine, sinter-active powder for fabricating separator plates, current-collecting layers, and interconnect coatings in tubular and planar SOFC stack designs, as well as for research into next-generation ceramic and hybrid interconnect systems. Substituting calcium onto the lanthanum site tunes both the electronic conductivity and the thermal expansion behaviour of the perovskite, allowing the material to be matched to the yttria-stabilised zirconia electrolytes and nickel-cermet anodes it must sit alongside for tens of thousands of hours at operating temperature. Though largely superseded by metallic Crofer-type interconnects in modern intermediate-temperature stack designs, La1-xCaxCrO3 remains in active use in high-temperature tubular architectures and continues to serve as the benchmark ceramic interconnect chemistry for materials research.

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Description

Introduction to Lanthanum Calcium Chromate Powder

Lanthanum Calcium Chromate (LCC, La₁₋ₓCaₓCrO₃) is a perovskite oxide derived from LaCrO₃, where Ca²⁺ substitution for La³⁺ promotes mixed Cr³⁺/Cr⁴⁺ valence states and p-type electronic conductivity through small-polaron hopping. Common compositions such as La₀.₈Ca₀.₂CrO₃ balance conductivity, phase stability, and thermal expansion, while calcium content can be adjusted to match specific SOFC designs. LCC is particularly valued for its stability under simultaneous oxidising and reducing atmospheres, making it suitable for high-temperature interconnect applications. Its thermal expansion can be tailored for compatibility with YSZ electrolytes and Ni-based anodes. Supplied as fine, controlled powder, LCC supports calcination, milling, pressing, tape casting, and plasma spraying to produce dense, gas-tight interconnect plates or protective coatings.

FAQs

Question: How does LaxCa1-xCrO₆ improve fuel cell efficiency?

Answer: The compound tends to increase ionic conductivity, reducing activation energy barriers and addressing most of the inefficiency problems found in current fuel cell technologies.

Question: What are the advantages of using LaxCa1-xCrO₆ in fuel cells?

Answer: LaxCa1-xCrO₆ offers improved efficiency, enhanced durability, better thermal stability, and compatibility with various materials. These features help bring fuel cell technologies closer to full realization.

Question: What is the significance of the perovskite structure in LaxCa1-xCrO₆?

Answer: The perovskite structure provides excellent ionic conductivity and thermal stability, making LaxCa1-xCrO₆ ideal for high-temperature electrochemical applications like fuel cells.

Question: How does LaxCa1-xCrO₆ compare to other cathode materials?

Answer: LaxCa1-xCrO₆ has improved thermal stability and redox resistance over conventional cathode materials, making it a more reliable high-temperature cathode application.

Introduction to Lanthanum Calcium Chromate Powder

Property	Value	Significance
Electrical Conductivity (air)	~20-40 S/cm at 1000 degrees C (p-type, small-polaron)	Sets the ohmic loss across the interconnect during current collection between adjacent cells in a stack
Electrical Conductivity (reducing/fuel side)	~1-10 S/cm at 1000 degrees C, low pO2	Demonstrates the dual-atmosphere conductivity retention required of an interconnect, though reduced versus the air-side value
Thermal Expansion Coefficient	~9.5-11 x10^-6 /K (RT-1000 degrees C, doping-dependent)	Tuned via Ca content to closely match YSZ electrolyte and Ni-cermet anode expansion, minimising thermomechanical stress and cracking
Particle Size (D50)	0.5-5 um standard grades; submicron and nanopowder grades available	Finer particle size improves sinterability and helps achieve the near-full density needed for a gas-tight separator plate
Purity	99% – 99.9%, custom on request	Impurity segregation at grain boundaries can locally degrade conductivity and long-term chemical stability
Density	~6.7-6.9 g/cm3 theoretical; ~6.3-6.5 g/cm3 typical sintered	Determines the gas-tightness achievable in a fired interconnect plate separating fuel and air compartments
CAS Number	12017-94-6 (registered to parent LaCrO3; used generically for Ca-doped solid solutions)	Reference number for documentation and regulatory purposes; no distinct CAS exists for individual doping levels of this non-stoichiometric solid solution
Crystal Structure	Orthorhombic to rhombohedral perovskite (ABO3, distorted GdFeO3-type)	Octahedral tilting from the perovskite distortion governs Cr-O-Cr bond angles and the resulting electron-hopping conductivity

Property

Value

Significance

Electrical Conductivity (air)

~20-40 S/cm at 1000 degrees C (p-type, small-polaron)

Sets the ohmic loss across the interconnect during current collection between adjacent cells in a stack

Electrical Conductivity (reducing/fuel side)

~1-10 S/cm at 1000 degrees C, low pO2

Demonstrates the dual-atmosphere conductivity retention required of an interconnect, though reduced versus the air-side value

Thermal Expansion Coefficient

~9.5-11 x10^-6 /K (RT-1000 degrees C, doping-dependent)

Tuned via Ca content to closely match YSZ electrolyte and Ni-cermet anode expansion, minimising thermomechanical stress and cracking

Particle Size (D50)

0.5-5 um standard grades; submicron and nanopowder grades available

Finer particle size improves sinterability and helps achieve the near-full density needed for a gas-tight separator plate

Purity

99% – 99.9%, custom on request

Impurity segregation at grain boundaries can locally degrade conductivity and long-term chemical stability

Density

~6.7-6.9 g/cm3 theoretical; ~6.3-6.5 g/cm3 typical sintered

Determines the gas-tightness achievable in a fired interconnect plate separating fuel and air compartments

CAS Number

12017-94-6 (registered to parent LaCrO3; used generically for Ca-doped solid solutions)

Reference number for documentation and regulatory purposes; no distinct CAS exists for individual doping levels of this non-stoichiometric solid solution

Crystal Structure

Orthorhombic to rhombohedral perovskite (ABO3, distorted GdFeO3-type)

Octahedral tilting from the perovskite distortion governs Cr-O-Cr bond angles and the resulting electron-hopping conductivity

Grade / Form	Typical Purity	Key Features / Uses
La0.9Ca0.1CrO3 (LCC10)	99%	Lower calcium doping; reduced electronic conductivity but improved dimensional stability, used where minimal Ca substitution suffices
La0.8Ca0.2CrO3 (LCC20)	99% – 99.9%	The most widely studied and supplied composition; balances electronic conductivity, thermal expansion matching, and sinterability.
La0.7Ca0.3CrO3 (LCC30)	99% – 99.9%	Higher Cr4+ fraction gives increased conductivity and thermal expansion, used in designs targeting higher current-collection efficiency.
La0.6Ca0.4CrO3 (LCC40)	99%	Maximum practical calcium doping for peak conductivity; reduced phase and dimensional stability limits use mainly to research.
B-site co-doped La1-xCaxCr1-yMyO3 (M = Co, Cu, Mg)	Custom	Co-doping on the chromium site lowers sintering temperature and improves densification without a large conductivity penalty.

Grade / Form

Typical Purity

Key Features / Uses

La0.9Ca0.1CrO3 (LCC10)

99%

Lower calcium doping; reduced electronic conductivity but improved dimensional stability, used where minimal Ca substitution suffices

La0.8Ca0.2CrO3 (LCC20)

99% – 99.9%

The most widely studied and supplied composition; balances electronic conductivity, thermal expansion matching, and sinterability.

La0.7Ca0.3CrO3 (LCC30)

99% – 99.9%

Higher Cr4+ fraction gives increased conductivity and thermal expansion, used in designs targeting higher current-collection efficiency.

La0.6Ca0.4CrO3 (LCC40)

99%

Maximum practical calcium doping for peak conductivity; reduced phase and dimensional stability limits use mainly to research.

B-site co-doped La1-xCaxCr1-yMyO3 (M = Co, Cu, Mg)

Custom

Co-doping on the chromium site lowers sintering temperature and improves densification without a large conductivity penalty.

Industry	Application	Function
Fuel Cells / Clean Energy	Ceramic interconnect (separator plate) in tubular and planar SOFC stacks	Electrically connects adjacent cells in series while physically separating fuel gas from oxidant air
Fuel Cells / Clean Energy	Current-collecting interconnect coatings and felts in tubular SOFC designs	Provides an electronic pathway from the cell surface to the external circuit in high-temperature tubular architectures
Materials Research	Benchmark system for dual-atmosphere ceramic conductor and defect-chemistry studies	Serves as the reference perovskite for studying Cr3+/Cr4+ small-polaron conduction and pO2-dependent behaviour
Materials Research	Thermal expansion and chemical-compatibility studies with SOFC electrolytes/electrodes	Supports development of matched-expansion ceramic stack designs and evaluation of interfacial reactivity
Electronics / Sensors	High-temperature stable resistive ceramic elements and gas-sensing electrodes	Retains stable electronic conductivity across variable oxygen partial pressure environments at elevated temperature
Catalysis	Chromium-based perovskite oxidation catalyst and catalyst-support research	Mixed Cr valence and oxygen mobility are investigated for high-temperature oxidation catalysis applications

Industry

Application

Function

Fuel Cells / Clean Energy

Ceramic interconnect (separator plate) in tubular and planar SOFC stacks

Electrically connects adjacent cells in series while physically separating fuel gas from oxidant air

Fuel Cells / Clean Energy

Current-collecting interconnect coatings and felts in tubular SOFC designs

Provides an electronic pathway from the cell surface to the external circuit in high-temperature tubular architectures

Materials Research

Benchmark system for dual-atmosphere ceramic conductor and defect-chemistry studies

Serves as the reference perovskite for studying Cr3+/Cr4+ small-polaron conduction and pO2-dependent behaviour