Issue 5, 2022

High-performance protonic ceramic fuel cell cathode using protophilic mixed ion and electron conducting material

Abstract

Protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs) are attractive energy conversion devices for intermediate-temperature operation (400–600 °C), however widespread application of PCFCs relies on the development of new high-performance electrode materials. Here we report the electrochemical and protonic properties of a self-assembled nanocomposite, Ba0.5Sr0.5(Co0.7Fe0.3)0.6875W0.3125O3−δ (BSCFW) consisting of a disordered single perovskite and an ordered double perovskite phase, as a PCFC cathode material. BSCFW shows thermodynamic and kinetic protonic behaviour conducive to PCFC application with favourable proton defect formation enthalpy (ΔH = −35 ± 7 kJ mol−1) comparable to existing proton conducting electrolyte materials. BSCFW presents an excellent polarization resistance (Rp) of 0.172(2) Ω cm2 at 600 °C and a high power density of 582(1) mW cm−2 through single-cell measurement, which is a comparable performance to current state-of-the-art cathode materials. BSCFW exhibits good chemical and thermal stability against BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.1Yb0.1O3−δ (BZCYYb) electrolyte with a low Rp degradation rate of 1.0(1) × 10−6 Ω cm2 min−1. These performance and stability figures represent an advance beyond those of Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.7Fe0.3O3−δ (BSCF), which is unstable under the same conditions and is incompatible with the electrolyte material. Our comprehensive characterization of the protonic properties of BSCFW, whose performance and stability are ensured via the interplay of the single and double perovskite phases, provides fundamental understanding that will inform the future design of high-performance PCFC cathodes.

Graphical abstract: High-performance protonic ceramic fuel cell cathode using protophilic mixed ion and electron conducting material

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
19 Aug. 2021
Accepted
21 Dec. 2021
First published
23 Dec. 2021
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2022,10, 2559-2566

High-performance protonic ceramic fuel cell cathode using protophilic mixed ion and electron conducting material

D. Hu, J. Kim, H. Niu, L. M. Daniels, T. D. Manning, R. Chen, B. Liu, R. Feetham, J. B. Claridge and M. J. Rosseinsky, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2022, 10, 2559 DOI: 10.1039/D1TA07113K

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements