Characterization and optimization of highly active and Ba-deficient BaCo0.4Fe0.4Zr0.1Y0.1O3--based cathode materials for protonic ceramics fuel cells

Abstract Highly active triple-conducting (proton-, oxygen-ion-, and electron-conducting) perovskite oxide BaCo0.4Fe0.4Zr0.1Y0.1O3-δ need to further optimize the electrochemical performance and chemical stability in carbon dioxide and water containing atmospheres, greatly limiting its widespread use in protonic ceramics fuel cells (PCFCs). Here, Ba-site deficient Ba0.9Co0.4Fe0.4Zr0.1Y0.1O3-δ (B9CFZY) was synthesized and investigated as a promising candidate concerning the chemical and structural stability, electrical conductivity and electrochemical performance. Anode-supported button cells with the prevalent BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.2O3-δ (BZCY) as electrolyte using B9CFZY and B9CFZY-BZCY cathodes, respectively, were fabricated and then measured at 700-550 °C. The maximum power density of the cells with B9CFZY-based cathodes increase from 452 mW cm−2 to 537 mW cm−2 at 700 °C, however, the corresponding polarization loss decreases from 0.30 to 0.15 Ω cm2 by adding proton-conducting BZCY. Importantly, to better explore the reasons for the improved electrochemical performance, the distribution function of relaxation time (DRT) is used to distinguish different electrode polarization processes of both cells. The results indicate the polarization peaks (P3) of cells with composite cathode resulting from oxygen gas adsorption and dissociation can be greatly accelerated as well as the polarization peaks (P2) resulting from oxygen species diffusion to three phase boundaries or active sites in the cathode. The dramatic improvements demonstrate Ba deficient B9CFZY-BZCY material can be a very competitive cathode material for PCFCs.