Polarization Behavior of SDC Cathode with Highly Dispersed Ni Catalysts for Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells

We have developed a mixed conducting samaria-doped ceria (SDC) cathode with highly dispersed Ni catalysts in a solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) for efficient hydrogen production. The Ni-dispersed SDC cathode exhibited the highest performance at 17 vol %-Ni loading due to the effective enhancement of the reaction rate by increasing the active reaction sites and lowering the electronic resistance. The cathode activity was found to increase with an increase in the ionic conductivity of zirconia electrolyte, similar to the case of SOFC electrodes. An SOEC comprised of Ni-dispersed SDC cathode, ScSZ electrolyte, and anode (with SDC interlayer) exhibited high performance for the short-term test; IR-free cell at and under the atmosphere of and .