1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to solid-electrolyte fuel cell electrode material, and to an electrode formed of the material.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, solid-electrolyte fuel cell electrodes are usually formed of LaMnO.sub.3, LaCoO.sub.3, LaSrMnO.sub.3 or other such lanthanum-based material having good heat-resistance and a coefficient of thermal expansion that is close to that of the solid electrolyte material. To manufacture electrodes using such materials, the surface of a solid electrolyte such as stabilized zirconia is flame-coated with a powder of the electrode material, or coated with a slurry of the powder which is then sintered, producing an air electrode in the form of a porous membrane having good air permeability.
While such air electrodes are required to have good air permeability, they are also required to have good electrical conductivity. The conductivity of an air electrode is highly dependent on its air permeability, but higher permeability means decreased density, with a corresponding decrease in conductivity; that is, the electrical resistance is increased.
An object of the present invention is to provide a solid-electrolyte fuel cell electrode which provides a major improvement in conductivity without a reduction in air permeability.