Lanthanum Strontium Manganite

Lanthanum strontium manganite (LSM) is the original and still most widely deployed cathode material for high-temperature solid oxide fuel cells, prized for its outstanding electrical conductivity above 800 degrees C and its exceptionally close thermal expansion match to yttria-stabilised zirconia (YSZ) electrolytes. Infinita Materials supplies LSM as a fine, sinter-active perovskite oxide powder engineered for screen printing, tape casting, and spray coating of cathode layers and cathode/YSZ composite contact layers. Decades of stack-level operating history back this chemistry: LSM sinters cleanly onto YSZ without the reactive interlayers that cobalt-containing cathodes require, giving cell builders a proven, chemically stable air-electrode option for stacks designed to run at 800-1000 degrees C. Custom strontium doping levels, A-site stoichiometry, particle size distributions, and packaging are available for pilot-line and production-scale programs.

Surface Area (m²/g) :	10-15
Particle size d₅₀ (μm) :	<1
Purity (%) :	>=99.9

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Description

Introduction to Lanthanum Strontium Manganite (LSM) Powder

Lanthanum Strontium Manganite (LSM, La₀.₈Sr₀.₂MnO₃) is a perovskite oxide in which La³⁺/Sr²⁺ occupy the A-site, and Mn occupies the B-site within a corner-sharing MnO₆ octahedral network. Sr substitution promotes mixed Mn³⁺/Mn⁴⁺ valence states, providing predominantly p-type electronic conductivity, while controlled A-site deficiency can improve chemical compatibility with YSZ by reducing formation of insulating La₂Zr₂O₇. Unlike MIEC cathodes such as LSCF, LSM has limited bulk oxide-ion transport, so oxygen reduction is concentrated at the electrode/electrolyte/gas triple-phase boundary (TPB). Its close thermal-expansion match and excellent chemical stability with YSZ make it particularly suitable for high-temperature SOFC operation around 800–1000 °C. Supplied as fine powder with controlled particle size and surface area, LSM supports screen printing, tape casting, and fabrication of porous LSM-YSZ composite cathodes.

FAQs

Question: What is Lanthanum Strontium Manganite used for?

Answer: It is primarily used as a cathode material in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and applied in magnetic sensors, electrochemical devices, and catalyzers.

Question: What are the benefits of using Lanthanum Strontium Manganite in SOFCs?

Answer: It offers high electrical conductivity at elevated temperatures, excellent thermal stability, and compatibility with yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ), enhancing the performance and durability of fuel cells.

Question: How does the doping of strontium affect the properties of Lanthanum Strontium Manganite?

Answer: Introducing extra holes to the valence band via strontium doping enhances material performance by improving overall electronic conductivity.

Question: What particle size and surface area should be specified for screen-printed LSM cathode layers?

Answer: Sub-micron powders with a D50 below about 1 um and BET surface area in the 10-15 m2/g range are standard for screen-printed and tape-cast cathode-functional layers, giving good sinter-neck formation with adjacent YSZ grains while retaining the porosity needed for gas diffusion; finer nanopowder grades are available on request for specialized thin-film or low-temperature-sintering applications.

Introduction to Lanthanum Strontium Manganite (LSM) Powder

Property	Value	Significance
Chemical Formula	(La0.8Sr0.2)0.9MnO3 (A-site-deficient, 20 mol% Sr-doped lanthanum manganite)	Defines the ABO3 perovskite stoichiometry, the Mn3+/Mn4+ ratio that drives electronic conductivity, and the A-site deficiency used to limit La2Zr2O7 formation at the YSZ interface
CAS Number	66402-68-4	Standard registry number cited across SOFC materials suppliers for LSM cathode powder; complex mixed perovskite oxides of this type are not always uniquely indexed in general chemical databases
Electronic Conductivity	~100-250 S/cm at 800-1000 degrees C in air (p-type electronic conductor)	High electronic conductivity at operating temperature minimises ohmic loss across the cathode current-collection path
Thermal Expansion Coefficient (TEC)	~11-12.5 x10-6 /K (25-1000 degrees C)	Closely matches YSZ’s TEC (~10.5×10-6 /K), minimising interfacial stress, delamination, and cracking during thermal cycling
Particle Size (D50)	<1 um (typical sub-micron range 0.3-1.0 um)	Fine particle size promotes good sinter-neck formation with YSZ in composite cathodes while preserving the porosity needed for gas transport.
Specific Surface Area (BET)	10-15 m2/g	Higher surface area increases TPB density and sinter activity but requires tighter dispersant/binder control in screen-printing pastes
Purity	99.5% – 99.9%, custom on request	Higher purity limits secondary-phase and impurity segregation at grain boundaries and the YSZ interface that can degrade long-term cathode performance
Crystal Structure	Perovskite (ABO3); rhombohedral, orthorhombic, or cubic depending on Sr content and temperature	The corner-sharing MnO6 octahedral framework and mixed Mn valence are the structural basis for LSM’s electronic conductivity.

Property

Value

Significance

Chemical Formula

(La0.8Sr0.2)0.9MnO3 (A-site-deficient, 20 mol% Sr-doped lanthanum manganite)

Defines the ABO3 perovskite stoichiometry, the Mn3+/Mn4+ ratio that drives electronic conductivity, and the A-site deficiency used to limit La2Zr2O7 formation at the YSZ interface

CAS Number

66402-68-4

Standard registry number cited across SOFC materials suppliers for LSM cathode powder; complex mixed perovskite oxides of this type are not always uniquely indexed in general chemical databases

Electronic Conductivity

~100-250 S/cm at 800-1000 degrees C in air (p-type electronic conductor)

High electronic conductivity at operating temperature minimises ohmic loss across the cathode current-collection path

Thermal Expansion Coefficient (TEC)

~11-12.5 x10-6 /K (25-1000 degrees C)

Closely matches YSZ’s TEC (~10.5×10-6 /K), minimising interfacial stress, delamination, and cracking during thermal cycling

Particle Size (D50)

<1 um (typical sub-micron range 0.3-1.0 um)

Fine particle size promotes good sinter-neck formation with YSZ in composite cathodes while preserving the porosity needed for gas transport.

Specific Surface Area (BET)

10-15 m2/g

Higher surface area increases TPB density and sinter activity but requires tighter dispersant/binder control in screen-printing pastes

Purity

99.5% – 99.9%, custom on request

Higher purity limits secondary-phase and impurity segregation at grain boundaries and the YSZ interface that can degrade long-term cathode performance

Crystal Structure

Perovskite (ABO3); rhombohedral, orthorhombic, or cubic depending on Sr content and temperature

The corner-sharing MnO6 octahedral framework and mixed Mn valence are the structural basis for LSM’s electronic conductivity.

Grade / Form	Typical Purity	Key Features / Uses
Standard LSM Cathode Powder	99.5%	General-purpose (La0.8Sr0.2)0.9MnO3 powder for screen-printed cathode layers on button cells and short-stack prototypes
High-Purity LSM Powder	99.9%	Reduced impurity content for research cells and long-duration degradation studies where trace-element effects must be minimised
LSM-YSZ Composite Cathode Powder (50/50 wt%)	99.5% – 99.9%	Pre-blended LSM/YSZ mixture that maximises triple-phase-boundary length in the cathode-functional layer adjacent to the electrolyte
LSM Screen-Printing Paste / Ink	99.5% – 99.9%	Powder pre-formulated with organic vehicle and binder system for direct screen printing of cathode and current-collector layers
LSM Sputtering Target / Thin-Film Grade	99.9%	Densified target form of the same composition for PVD deposition of thin-film LSM cathode or contact layers in micro-SOFC research

Grade / Form

Typical Purity

Key Features / Uses

Standard LSM Cathode Powder

99.5%

General-purpose (La0.8Sr0.2)0.9MnO3 powder for screen-printed cathode layers on button cells and short-stack prototypes

High-Purity LSM Powder

99.9%

Reduced impurity content for research cells and long-duration degradation studies where trace-element effects must be minimised

LSM-YSZ Composite Cathode Powder (50/50 wt%)

99.5% – 99.9%

Pre-blended LSM/YSZ mixture that maximises triple-phase-boundary length in the cathode-functional layer adjacent to the electrolyte

LSM Screen-Printing Paste / Ink

99.5% – 99.9%

Powder pre-formulated with organic vehicle and binder system for direct screen printing of cathode and current-collector layers

LSM Sputtering Target / Thin-Film Grade

99.9%

Densified target form of the same composition for PVD deposition of thin-film LSM cathode or contact layers in micro-SOFC research

Industry	Application	Function
Automotive	Auxiliary power unit (APU) SOFC stacks for trucks and heavy-duty vehicles	Serves as the air-electrode (cathode) layer, providing stable long-duration performance under repeated thermal cycling in on-board power units
Energy / Stationary Power Generation	Large-format stationary SOFC stacks for distributed and combined heat and power (CHP) systems	High-temperature electronic conductivity and YSZ compatibility support the long service lifetimes required of stationary power installations.
Aerospace & Defense	Portable and backup SOFC power systems	Chemical and mechanical stability at high temperature suits ruggedised, field-deployable fuel cell power units
Electronics / Thin-Film Devices	Sputtering targets and thin-film cathode/contact coatings for micro-SOFCs	Deposits conductive, YSZ-compatible perovskite films for miniaturised and microfabricated fuel cell devices
Materials Research & Development	Reference cathode material for electrochemical performance and degradation studies	Serves as the benchmark electronic-conductor cathode against which MIEC alternatives such as LSCF and LSC are evaluated
Ceramic Manufacturing	Composite cathode-functional layers and cathode/interconnect contact layers	LSM-YSZ composite formulations extend triple-phase-boundary density while maintaining a sinter-compatible interface with the electrolyte

Industry

Application

Function

Automotive

Auxiliary power unit (APU) SOFC stacks for trucks and heavy-duty vehicles

Serves as the air-electrode (cathode) layer, providing stable long-duration performance under repeated thermal cycling in on-board power units

Energy / Stationary Power Generation

Large-format stationary SOFC stacks for distributed and combined heat and power (CHP) systems

High-temperature electronic conductivity and YSZ compatibility support the long service lifetimes required of stationary power installations.

Aerospace & Defense

Portable and backup SOFC power systems

Chemical and mechanical stability at high temperature suits ruggedised, field-deployable fuel cell power units