Novel cobalt-free cathode materials BaCe xFe 1− xO 3−δ for proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cells

Abstract

A series of cobalt-free and low cost BaCe x Fe 1− x O 3−δ ( x = 0.15, 0.50, 0.85) materials are successful synthesized and used as the cathode materials for proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). The single cell, consisting of a BaZr 0.1Ce 0.7Y 0.2O 3−δ (BZCY7)-NiO anode substrate, a BZCY7 anode functional layer, a BZCY7 electrolyte membrane and a BaCe x Fe 1− x O 3−δ cathode layer, is assembled and tested from 600 to 700 °C with humidified hydrogen (∼3% H 2O) as the fuel and the static air as the oxidant. Within all the cathode materials above, the cathode BaCe 0.5Fe 0.5O 3−δ shows the highest cell performance which could obtain an open-circuit potential of 0.99 V and a maximum power density of 395 mW cm −2 at 700 °C. The results indicate that the Fe-doped barium cerates can be promising cathodes for proton-conducting SOFCs.