High-performance anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells based on nickel-based cathode and Ba(Zr(0.1)Ce(0.7)Y(0.2))O(3-delta) electrolyte

Iron-stabilized lanthanum nickelate oxide with a perovskite structure, LaNi(0.6)Fe(0.4)O(3-delta) (LNF), was prepared by a citrate-nitrate process and evaluated as the cathode component of a proton-conducting SOFC based on a Ba(Zr(0.1)Ce(0.7)Y(0.2))O(3-delta) (BZCY) electrolyte. XRD analysis shows that LNF reacts with BZCY to form a K(2)NiF(4)-type phase in the course of cathode calcination, but remains chemically well compatible with BZCY at the operating temperature. A single cell was assembled and tested using humidified hydrogen as fuel gas and atmospheric air as the oxidant. The matching thermal expansion coefficient (TEC), high conductivity and good catalytic activity of the LNF cathode enable the cell to generate high power densities and low polarization resistances. At 700 degree C, the peak power density is 668 mW cm(-2) and the polarization resistance is 0.046 OMEGA cm(2). This work confirms that LNF may be a prospective cathode material for BZCY proton-conducting electrolytes.