Durability and Interfacial Elemental Diffusion about BZYb based Protonic Ceramic Fuel Cell

Abstract

The durability of protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFC) using Yb-doped BaZrO3 (BZYb) as electrolyte was investigated by 1000 h power generation tests and EPMA analysis of Co from cathode and Ni from anode. In addition, the effect of buffer layer of BaCeZrYYbO3-δ (BCZYYb) between the cathode and the electrolyte on durability and elemental diffusion was also investigated. In the cell with the buffer layer, the degradation of polarization resistance was suppressed in 1000 h power generation test. From EPMA analysis, Ni and Co segregation was observed in the electrolyte and the cathode after 1000 h power generation test in the cell without the buffer layer, which was suppressed in the cell with the buffer layer. These results suggested that the suppression of the segregation by use of BCZYYb buffer layer might have reduced the degradation of polarization resistance.