Layered perovskite PrBa 0.5Sr 0.5Co 2O 5+ δ as high performance cathode for solid oxide fuel cells using oxide proton-conducting electrolyte

Abstract

The layered perovskite PrBa 0.5Sr 0.5Co 2O 5+ δ (PBSC) was investigated as a cathode material for a solid oxide fuel cell using an oxide proton conductor based on BaZr 0.1Ce 0.7Y 0.2O 3− δ (BZCY). The sintering conditions for the PBSC–BZCY composite cathode were optimized, resulting in the lowest area-specific resistance and apparent activation energy obtained with the cathode sintered at 1200 °C for 2 h. The maximum power densities of the PBSC–BZCY/BZCY/NiO–BZCY cell were 0.179, 0.274, 0.395, and 0.522 W cm −2 at 550, 600, 650, and 700 °C, respectively with a 15 μm thick electrolyte. A relatively low cell interfacial polarization resistance of 0.132 Ω cm 2 at 700 °C indicated that the PBSC–BZCY could be a good cathode candidate for intermediate temperature SOFCs with BZCY electrolyte.