Brief Review: Electrochemical Performance of LSCF Composite Cathodes - Influence of Ceria-Electrolyte and Metals Element

Abstract

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) are an efficient and clean power generation devices. Low-temperature SOFC (LTSOFC) has been developed since high-temperature SOFC (HTSOFC) are not feasible to be commercialized because high in cost. Lowering the operation temperature has caused substantial performance decline resulting from cathode polarization resistance and overpotential of cathode. The development of composite cathodes regarding mixed ionic-electronic conductor (MIEC) and ceria based materials for LTSOFC significantly minimize the problems and leading to the increasing in electrocatalytic activity for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) to occur. Lanthanum-based materials such as lanthanum strontium cobalt ferrite (La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-δ) recently have been discovered to offer great compatibility with ceria-based electrolytes to be applied as composite cathode materials for LTSOFC. Cell performance at lower operating temperature can be maintained and further improved by enhancing the ORR. This paper reviews recent development of various ceria-based composite cathodes especially related to the ceria-carbonate composite electrolytes for LTSOFC. The influence of the addition of metallic elements such as silver (Ag), platinum (Pt) and palladium (Pd) towards the electrochemical properties and performance of LSCF composite cathodes are briefly discussed.