Self-sustainable protonic ceramic electrochemical cells using a triple conducting electrode for hydrogen and power production

Ding, Hanping; Wu, Wei; Jiang, Chao; Ding, Yong; Bian, Wenjuan; Hu, Boxun; Singh, Prabhakar; Orme, Christopher J.; Wang, Lucun; Zhang, Yunya; Ding, Dong

doi:10.1038/s41467-020-15677-z

Self-sustainable protonic ceramic electrochemical cells using a triple conducting electrode for hydrogen and power production

Journal Article · Mon Apr 20 00:00:00 EDT 2020 · Nature Communications

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-15677-z· OSTI ID:1618272

^[1]; ^[1]; ^[1]; ^[2]; Bian, Wenjuan ^[3]; Hu, Boxun ^[4]; Singh, Prabhakar ^[4]; ^[1]; ^[1]; Zhang, Yunya ^[1]; ^[1]

Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
Georgia Inst. of Technology, Atlanta, GA (United States)
Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States); New Mexico State Univ., Las Cruces, NM (United States)
Univ. of Connecticut, Storrs, CT (United States)

The protonic ceramic electrochemical cell (PCEC) is an emerging and attractive technology that converts energy between power and hydrogen using solid oxide proton conductors at intermediate temperatures. To achieve efficient electrochemical hydrogen and power production with stable operation, highly robust and durable electrodes are urgently desired to facilitate water oxidation and oxygen reduction reactions, which are the critical steps for both electrolysis and fuel cell operation, especially at reduced temperatures. In this study, a triple conducting oxide of PrNi_0.5Co_0.5O_3-δ perovskite is developed as an oxygen electrode, presenting superior electrochemical performance at 400-600°C. More importantly, the self-sustainable and reversible operation is successfully demonstrated by converting the generated hydrogen in electrolysis mode to electricity without any hydrogen addition. The excellent electrocatalytic activity is attributed to the considerable proton conduction, as confirmed by hydrogen permeation experiment, remarkable hydration behavior and computations.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC07-05ID14517

OSTI ID:: 1618272

Report Number(s):: INL/JOU--18-52078-Rev001

Journal Information:: Nature Communications, Journal Name: Nature Communications Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 11; ISSN 2041-1723

Publisher:: Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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