Highly Active and Durable Air Electrodes for Reversible Protonic Ceramic Electrochemical Cells Enabled by an Efficient Bifunctional Catalyst

Niu, Yinghua; Zhou, Yucun; Zhang, Weilin; Zhang, Yanxiang; Evans, Conor; Luo, Zheyu; Kane, Nicholas; Ding, Yong; Chen, Yu; Guo, Xuyun; Lv, Weiqiang; Liu, Meilin

doi:10.1002/aenm.202103783

Highly Active and Durable Air Electrodes for Reversible Protonic Ceramic Electrochemical Cells Enabled by an Efficient Bifunctional Catalyst

Journal Article · Mon Feb 07 00:00:00 EST 2022 · Advanced Energy Materials

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.202103783· OSTI ID:1976244

Niu, Yinghua ^[1]; ^[2]; Zhang, Weilin ^[2]; Zhang, Yanxiang ^[3]; Evans, Conor ^[2]; Luo, Zheyu ^[2]; Kane, Nicholas ^[2]; Ding, Yong ^[2]; Chen, Yu ^[4]; Guo, Xuyun ^[5]; Lv, Weiqiang ^[6]; ^[2]

Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA (United States); University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Huzhou (China); OSTI
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA (United States)
Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin (China)
South China University of Technology, Guangzhou (China)
Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong (China)
University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Huzhou (China)

The commercialization of reversible protonic ceramic electrochemical cells is hindered by the lack of highly active and durable air electrodes exposed to high concentration of steam under operating conditions. We report findings that dramatically enhance the electrocatalytic activity and stability of a conventional (La_0.6Sr_0.4)_0.95Co_0.2Fe_0.8O_3-δ (LSCF) air electrode by a multiphase catalyst coating composed of a conformal Pr_1-xBa_xCoO_3-δ thin film and exsolved BaCoO_3-δ nanoparticles, are reported. At 600 °C, the catalyst coating decreases the polarization resistance of the LSCF air electrode by a factor of 25 (from 1.09 to 0.043 Ω cm²) in air and the degradation rate by two orders of magnitude (from 1.0 × 10^-2 to 1.8 × 10^-4 Ω cm2 h^-1 in humidified air with 30 vol% H2O). Further, a single cell with the catalyst-coated LSCF air electrode at 600 °C demonstrates a high peak power density of 1.04 W cm^-2 in the fuel cell mode and a high current density of 1.82 A cm^-2 at 1.3 V in the electrolysis mode. The significantly enhanced performance of the LSCF air electrode is attributed mainly to the high rate of surface oxygen exchange, fast surface proton diffusion, and the rapid H₂O and O₂ dissociation on the catalysts.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: China Scholarship Council (CSC); Foundation of Yangtze Delta Region Institute; National Natural Science Foundation of China; USDOE; USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

Grant/Contract Number:: EE0008439

OSTI ID:: 1976244

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1844007

Journal Information:: Advanced Energy Materials, Journal Name: Advanced Energy Materials Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 12; ISSN 1614-6832

Publisher:: WileyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

References (55)

An In Situ Formed, Dual-Phase Cathode with a Highly Active Catalyst Coating for Protonic Ceramic Fuel Cells Chen, Yu; Yoo, Seonyoung; Pei, Kai Advanced Functional Materials, Vol. 28, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201704907	journal	December 2017
Gas Humidification Impact on the Properties and Performance of Perovskite‐Type Functional Materials in Proton‐Conducting Solid Oxide Cells Wang, Wei; Medvedev, Dmitry; Shao, Zongping Advanced Functional Materials, Vol. 28, Issue 48 https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201802592	journal	October 2018
Progress Report on Proton Conducting Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells Lei, Libin; Zhang, Jihao; Yuan, Zhihao Advanced Functional Materials, Vol. 29, Issue 37 https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201903805	journal	July 2019
Enhancing Oxygen Reduction Activity and Cr Tolerance of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Cathodes by a Multiphase Catalyst Coating Niu, Yinghua; Zhou, Yucun; Lv, Weiqiang Advanced Functional Materials, Vol. 31, Issue 19 https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202100034	journal	March 2021
An Efficient Bifunctional Air Electrode for Reversible Protonic Ceramic Electrochemical Cells Zhou, Yucun; Zhang, Weilin; Kane, Nicholas Advanced Functional Materials, Vol. 31, Issue 40 https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202105386	journal	July 2021
A Cobalt‐Free Multi‐Phase Nanocomposite as Near‐Ideal Cathode of Intermediate‐Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells Developed by Smart Self‐Assembly Song, Yufei; Chen, Yubo; Xu, Meigui Advanced Materials, Vol. 32, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201906979	journal	January 2020
Rational SOFC material design: new advances and tools Liu, Meilin; Lynch, Matthew E.; Blinn, Kevin Materials Today, Vol. 14, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1016/S1369-7021(11)70279-6	journal	November 2011
Fabrication of anode-supported tubular Ba(Zr0.1Ce0.7Y0.2)O3−δ cell for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells Min, Sung Hwan; Song, Rak-Hyun; Lee, Jin Goo Ceramics International, Vol. 40, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2013.07.036	journal	January 2014
Production of La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-δ cathode with graded porosity for improving proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cells Lai, Yi-Wei; Lee, Kan-Rong; Yang, Seng-Yu Ceramics International, Vol. 45, Issue 17 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2019.07.270	journal	December 2019
Effects of water atmosphere on chemical degradation of PrBa0.5Sr0.5Co1.5Fe0.5O5+δ electrodes Choi, Mingi; Kim, Seo Ju; Lee, Wonyoung Ceramics International, Vol. 47, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2020.11.124	journal	March 2021
Enhanced La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3–-based cathode performance by modification of BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.1Yb0.1O3– electrolyte surface in protonic ceramic fuel cells Shimada, Hiroyuki; Yamaguchi, Yuki; Sumi, Hirofumi Ceramics International, Vol. 47, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2021.02.123	journal	June 2021
Anode-supported tubular SOFCs based on BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.1Yb0.1O3−δ electrolyte fabricated by dip coating Chen, Changcheng; Liu, Mingfei; Bai, Yaohui Electrochemistry Communications, Vol. 13, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.elecom.2011.03.025	journal	June 2011
High performance and stability of double perovskite-type oxide NdBa0.5Ca0.5Co1.5Fe0.5O5+ as an oxygen electrode for reversible solid oxide electrochemical cell Tian, Yunfeng; Liu, Yun; Wang, Wenjie Journal of Energy Chemistry, Vol. 43 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jechem.2019.08.010	journal	April 2020
A Highly Efficient Multi-phase Catalyst Dramatically Enhances the Rate of Oxygen Reduction Chen, Yu; Choi, YongMan; Yoo, Seonyoung Joule, Vol. 2, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2018.02.008	journal	May 2018
Sr Segregation in Perovskite Oxides: Why It Happens and How It Exists Koo, Bonjae; Kim, Kyeounghak; Kim, Jun Kyu Joule, Vol. 2, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2018.07.016	journal	August 2018
Self-Assembled Triple-Conducting Nanocomposite as a Superior Protonic Ceramic Fuel Cell Cathode Song, Yufei; Chen, Yubo; Wang, Wei Joule, Vol. 3, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2019.07.004	journal	November 2019
Evaluation of Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3−δ as a potential cathode for an anode-supported proton-conducting solid-oxide fuel cell Lin, Ye; Ran, Ran; Zheng, Yao Journal of Power Sources, Vol. 180, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2008.02.044	journal	May 2008
Intermediate-temperature electrochemical performance of a polycrystalline PrBaCo2O5+δ cathode on samarium-doped ceria electrolyte Chen, Dengjie; Ran, Ran; Zhang, Kun Journal of Power Sources, Vol. 188, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2008.11.045	journal	March 2009
A mixed proton, oxygen ion, and electron conducting cathode for SOFCs based on oxide proton conductors Yang, Lei; Liu, Ze; Wang, Shizhong Journal of Power Sources, Vol. 195, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2009.07.057	journal	January 2010
Fabrication and characterization of anode-supported micro-tubular solid oxide fuel cell based on BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.1Yb0.1O3−δ electrolyte Zhao, Fei; Jin, Chao; Yang, Chenghao Journal of Power Sources, Vol. 196, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2010.07.058	journal	January 2011
Reconstruction of relaxation time distribution from linear electrochemical impedance spectroscopy Zhang, Yanxiang; Chen, Yu; Yan, Mufu Journal of Power Sources, Vol. 283 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2015.02.107	journal	June 2015
A high-precision approach to reconstruct distribution of relaxation times from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy Zhang, Yanxiang; Chen, Yu; Li, Mei Journal of Power Sources, Vol. 308 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2016.01.067	journal	March 2016
Tailoring a micro-nanostructured electrolyte-oxygen electrode interface for proton-conducting reversible solid oxide cells Sun, Ce; Yang, Shaojing; Lu, Yang Journal of Power Sources, Vol. 449 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2019.227498	journal	February 2020
An improved oxygen reduction reaction activity and CO2-tolerance of La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-δ achieved by a surface modification with barium cobaltite coatings Pei, Kai; Zhou, Yucun; Ding, Yong Journal of Power Sources, Vol. 514 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2021.230573	journal	December 2021
Hybrid-solid oxide electrolysis cell: A new strategy for efficient hydrogen production Kim, Junyoung; Jun, Areum; Gwon, Ohhun Nano Energy, Vol. 44 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2017.11.074	journal	February 2018
An effective strategy to enhancing tolerance to contaminants poisoning of solid oxide fuel cell cathodes Chen, Yu; Yoo, Seonyoung; Li, Xiaxi Nano Energy, Vol. 47 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2018.03.043	journal	May 2018
Enhanced Cr-tolerance of an SOFC cathode by an efficient electro-catalyst coating Pei, Kai; Zhou, Yucun; Xu, Kang Nano Energy, Vol. 72 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2020.104704	journal	June 2020
Development of composite steam electrodes for electrolyzers based on barium zirconate Bausá, Nuria; Solís, Cecilia; Strandbakke, Ragnar Solid State Ionics, Vol. 306 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssi.2017.03.020	journal	August 2017
One-dimensional structured La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3−δ - BaCe0.5Zr0.35Y0.15O3−δ composite cathode for protonic ceramic fuel cells Lee, Sewook; Park, Sangho; Wee, Seokeun Solid State Ionics, Vol. 320 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssi.2018.03.010	journal	July 2018
Toward Reducing the Operation Temperature of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: Our Past 15 Years of Efforts in Cathode Development Yang, Guangming; Su, Chao; Shi, Huangang Energy & Fuels, Vol. 34, Issue 12 https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.0c01887	journal	July 2020
Effect of Sr Content and Strain on Sr Surface Segregation of La _{1– x} Sr _x Co _0.2 Fe _0.8 O _3−δ as Cathode Material for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells Yu, Yang; Ludwig, Karl F.; Woicik, Joseph C. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, Vol. 8, Issue 40 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.6b07118	journal	September 2016
Comprehensive Understanding of Cathodic and Anodic Polarization Effects on Stability of Nanoscale Oxygen Electrode for Reversible Solid Oxide Cells Choi, Sung Min; Ahn, Junsung; Son, Ji-Won ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, Vol. 10, Issue 46 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.8b11874	journal	October 2018
An Active and Robust Air Electrode for Reversible Protonic Ceramic Electrochemical Cells Zhou, Yucun; Liu, Enzuo; Chen, Yu ACS Energy Letters https://doi.org/10.1021/acsenergylett.1c00432	journal	March 2021
A high-performance cathode for the next generation of solid-oxide fuel cells Shao, Zongping; Haile, Sossina M. Nature, Vol. 431, Issue 7005, p. 170-173 https://doi.org/10.1038/nature02863	journal	September 2004
Improved chemical and electrochemical stability of perovskite oxides with less reducible cations at the surface Tsvetkov, Nikolai; Lu, Qiyang; Sun, Lixin Nature Materials, Vol. 15, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat4659	journal	June 2016
Self-sustainable protonic ceramic electrochemical cells using a triple conducting electrode for hydrogen and power production Ding, Hanping; Wu, Wei; Jiang, Chao Nature Communications, Vol. 11, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-15677-z	journal	April 2020
Highly efficient reversible protonic ceramic electrochemical cells for power generation and fuel production Duan, Chuancheng; Kee, Robert; Zhu, Huayang Nature Energy, Vol. 4, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-019-0333-2	journal	March 2019
Structural and oxygen-transport studies of double perovskites PrBa _1−x Co ₂ O _5+δ (x = 0.00, 0.05, and 0.10) toward their application as superior oxygen reduction electrodes Dong, Feifei; Ni, Meng; Chen, Yubo J. Mater. Chem. A, Vol. 2, Issue 48 https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TA04372C	journal	January 2014
Large-scale electricity storage utilizing reversible solid oxide cells combined with underground storage of CO ₂ and CH ₄ Jensen, S. H.; Graves, C.; Mogensen, M. Energy & Environmental Science, Vol. 8, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.1039/C5EE01485A	journal	January 2015
Layered LnBaCo ₂ O _5+δ perovskite cathodes for solid oxide fuel cells: an overview and perspective Kim, Jung-Hyun; Manthiram, Arumugam Journal of Materials Chemistry A, Vol. 3, Issue 48 https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TA06212H	journal	January 2015
Zr and Y co-doped perovskite as a stable, high performance cathode for solid oxide fuel cells operating below 500 °C Duan, Chuancheng; Hook, David; Chen, Yachao Energy & Environmental Science, Vol. 10, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1039/C6EE01915C	journal	January 2017
A robust and active hybrid catalyst for facile oxygen reduction in solid oxide fuel cells Chen, Yu; Chen, Yan; Ding, Dong Energy & Environmental Science, Vol. 10, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1039/C6EE03656B	journal	January 2017
A highly active, CO ₂ -tolerant electrode for the oxygen reduction reaction Chen, Yu; Yoo, Seonyoung; Choi, YongMan Energy & Environmental Science, Vol. 11, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1039/C8EE01140K	journal	January 2018
Protonic ceramic electrochemical cells for hydrogen production and electricity generation: exceptional reversibility, stability, and demonstrated faradaic efficiency Choi, Sihyuk; Davenport, Timothy C.; Haile, Sossina M. Energy & Environmental Science, Vol. 12, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1039/C8EE02865F	journal	January 2019
Heterointerface engineering for enhancing the electrochemical performance of solid oxide cells Zhao, Chenhuan; Li, Yifeng; Zhang, Wenqiang Energy & Environmental Science, Vol. 13, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1039/C9EE02230A	journal	January 2020
A highly active and Cr-resistant infiltrated cathode for practical solid oxide fuel cells Yang, Tianrang; Wen, Yeting; Wu, Tao Journal of Materials Chemistry A, Vol. 8, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1039/C9TA11657E	journal	January 2020
Promotion of oxygen reduction reaction on a double perovskite electrode by a water-induced surface modification Kim, Jun Hyuk; Yoo, Seonyoung; Murphy, Ryan Energy & Environmental Science, Vol. 14, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EE03283B	journal	January 2021
Activity of layered swedenborgite structured Y _0.8 Er _0.2 BaCo _3.2 Ga _0.8 O _7+δ for oxygen electrode reactions in at intermediate temperature reversible ceramic cells Shin, Ji-Seop; Park, Hyunyoung; Park, Kwangho Journal of Materials Chemistry A, Vol. 9, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1039/D0TA11000K	journal	January 2021
Rapid oxygen ion diffusion and surface exchange kinetics in PrBaCo2O5+x with a perovskite related structure and ordered A cations Kim, G.; Wang, S.; Jacobson, A. J. Journal of Materials Chemistry, Vol. 17, Issue 24 https://doi.org/10.1039/b618345j	journal	January 2007
Enhancing SOFC cathode performance by surface modification through infiltration Ding, Dong; Li, Xiaxi; Lai, Samson Yuxiu Energy & Environmental Science, Vol. 7, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1039/c3ee42926a	journal	January 2014
Proton-conducting oxides for energy conversion and storage Duan, Chuancheng; Huang, Jake; Sullivan, Neal Applied Physics Reviews, Vol. 7, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5135319	journal	March 2020
Enhanced Sulfur and Coking Tolerance of a Mixed Ion Conductor for SOFCs: BaZr_0.1Ce_0.7Y_0.2–xYb_xO_3–δ Yang, L.; Wang, S.; Blinn, K. Science, Vol. 326, Issue 5949, p. 126-129 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1174811	journal	October 2009
LnBaCo[sub 2]O[sub 5+δ] Oxides as Cathodes for Intermediate-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells Kim, J. -H.; Manthiram, A. Journal of The Electrochemical Society, Vol. 155, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1149/1.2839028	journal	January 2008
Performance Comparison of Perovskite Composite Cathodes with BaZr _0.1 Ce _0.7 Y _0.1 Yb _0.1 O _{3– δ} in Anode-Supported Protonic Ceramic Fuel Cells Shimada, Hiroyuki; Yamaguchi, Yuki; Sumi, Hirofumi Journal of The Electrochemical Society, Vol. 167, Issue 12 https://doi.org/10.1149/1945-7111/abab26	journal	August 2020
Role of nanostructures on SOFC performance at reduced temperatures Lee, Kang Taek; Wachsman, Eric D. MRS Bulletin, Vol. 39, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1557/mrs.2014.193	journal	September 2014

Similar Records

An Efficient Bifunctional Air Electrode for Reversible Protonic Ceramic Electrochemical Cells

Journal Article · Sun Jul 11 20:00:00 EDT 2021 · Advanced Functional Materials · OSTI ID:1812515

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
air electrode
bifunctional catalyst
protonic ceramic electrochemical cells
solid oxide cells
water electrolysis

Highly Active and Durable Air Electrodes for Reversible Protonic Ceramic Electrochemical Cells Enabled by an Efficient Bifunctional Catalyst

Citation Formats

References (55)

Similar Records

Related Subjects