Zr and Y co-doped perovskite as a stable, high performance cathode for solid oxide fuel cells operating below 500 °C

Abstract

BaCo _0.4Fe _0.4Zr _0.1Y _0.1O _3−δis applied for the first time as a cathode for low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (LT-SOFCs) with high power densities below 500 °C and 2500 hours stable performance.

Abstract

Zr and Y co-doped perovskite BaCo _0.4Fe _0.4Zr _0.1Y _0.1O _3−δ(BCFZY0.1) was recently developed as a promising new cathode for protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs). Here, it is applied for the first time as a cathode for low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (LT-SOFCs). It exhibits large lattice parameters, high oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity, exceptional low-temperature performance, long-term stability, and excellent chemical compatability with ceria-based SOFC electrolytes. When BCFZY0.1 is used as the cathode in Ce _0.8Gd _0.2O _2−δ(GDC20)-based SOFCs, it enables a peak power density of 0.97 W cm ⁻²at 500 °C with 2500 hours stable performance and complete recoverability without any degradation after more than 80 fast thermal ramping cycles. Even at 350 °C, peak power density reaches 0.13 W cm ⁻². It also shows good H ₂O and CO ₂tolerance.