A New Durable Surface Nanoparticles‐Modified Perovskite Cathode for Protonic Ceramic Fuel Cells from Selective Cation Exsolution under Oxidizing Atmosphere

Abstract

A high-performance cathode of a protonic ceramic fuel cell (PCFC) should possess excellent oxygen reduction reactivity, high proton/oxygen-ion/electron conductivity, and sufficient operational stability, thus requiring a delicate tuning of both the bulk and surface properties of the electrode material. Although surface modification of perovskites with nanoparticles from reducing-atmosphere exsolution has been demonstrated effective at improving the electrochemical anodic oxidation, such nanoparticles would easily re-incorporate into the perovskite lattice causing a big challenge for their application as cathode. Here, we report a durable perovskite-based nanocomposite cathode for PCFC, which is facilely prepared via the exsolution of nanoparticles in an oxidizing atmosphere. Through composition and cation nonstoichiometry manipulation, a precursor with the nominal composition of Ba0.95 (Co0.4 Fe0.4 Zr0.1 Y0.1 )0.95 Ni0.05 O3-δ (BCFZYN-095) is designed, synthesized, and investigated, which, upon calcination, gives rise to the formation of a perovskite-based nanocomposite comprising a major perovskite phase and a minor NiO phase enriched on the perovskite surface. The major perovskite phase enabled by the proper cation nonstoichiometry manipulation promotes bulk proton conduction while the NiO nanoparticles facilitate oxygen surface exchange process, leading to superior cathodic performance with a maximum peak power density of 1040mW cm-2 at 650°C and an excellent operational stability of 400 h at 550°C. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.