Updating the Notion that Poor Cathode Performance Typically Dominates Overall Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Response

Abstract

Here, Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) utilizing high performance La0.6Sr0.4Co0.8Fe0.2O3−x (LSCF)—Gd0.1Ce0.9O1.95−x (GDC) nano-composite cathodes (NCCs) on commercially-available [GDC diffusion barrier ∣ (Y2O3)0.08(ZrO2)0.92 (YSZ) electrolyte ∣ Ni-YSZ anode functional layer ∣ Ni-YSZ gas transport layer] supports had the same 550 °C–650 °C current-voltage behavior as identical SOFCs utilizing commercial La0.6Sr0.4CoO3 (LSC) cathodes, despite differences in open-circuit cathode polarization resistance (R P ). Nickel anode infiltration also produced a ∼25% SOFC peak power density improvement in these cells. These results, combined with literature data showing that either the cathode R P , anode R P , or ohmic losses within the cell can limit state-of-the-art SOFC performance (depending on the exact compositions, microstructures, testing conditions etc.), suggest that it is time to retire the old adage that poor cathode performance typically limits overall SOFC performance.