Designing p-n heterostructure of LSCF-CeO2 material for ionic transportation as an electrolyte for semiconductor ion membrane fuel cell

Abstract

Development of protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs) electrolyte with fast ionic conduction and high electrochemical performance at low temperature is highly desirable for the hydrogen suitable application. In this regard, semiconductor heterostructure of LSCF-CeO2 is designed by introducing n-type CeO2 into p-type semiconductor material La0.8Sr0.2Co0.8Fe0.2O3-δ (LSCF) to construct a p-n heterojunction structure. This work discusses the role of semiconductor charge separation in fuel cell device on electrochemical performance by interesting physical and electrochemical characterizations in terms of energy band alignment, oxygen vacancies formation and Schottky junction. Further, the constructed LSCF-CeO2 heterojunction composites by combining CeO2 and LSCF with different concentrations tested the electrochemical performance as electrolyte to assemble fuel cell devices with significant power densities and high ionic conductivity of 0.11 S/cm. By comparison, it is found that the LSCF-CeO2 heterojunction composite constructed with 20% molar ratio of CeO2 play a better role in preventing electron transport, reflecting ionic conductivity and a pretty power output.