Perovskite Cathode Materials for Low-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: Fundamentals to Optimization

Zhiheng Li; Mengran Li; Zhonghua Zhu

doi:10.1007/s41918-021-00098-3

Electrochemical Energy Reviews ›› 2021, Vol. 5 ›› Issue (2) : 263 -311. DOI: 10.1007/s41918-021-00098-3

Review Article

Perovskite Cathode Materials for Low-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: Fundamentals to Optimization

Zhiheng Li ¹^,²
, Mengran Li ¹^,^b
, Zhonghua Zhu ¹^,^c

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¹School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland, 4072, Brisbane, Australia

²School of Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum, 266555, Qingdao, Shandong, China

^b m.li6@uq.edu.au

^c z.zhu@uq.edu.au

Zhiheng Li

Zhiheng Li is pursuing his Ph.D. degree at the China University of Petroleum. He is currently working at the University of Queensland as a visiting student. His research interest mainly focuses on energy conversion related materials and systems such as bio-oil production, deep eutectic solvents and perovskite cathodes for solid oxide fuel cells.

Dr Mengran Li

is a postdoctoral research fellow in the School of Chemical Engineering and UQ‐HBIS Innovation Centre for Sustainable Steel at the University of Queensland, Australia. Mengran completed his Bachelor of Engineering in chemical engineering at Tianjin University, China (2008), and Ph.D. from the University of Queensland in Australia (2012). His current research focuses on the development of electrode materials and electrochemical process for energy conversion and carbon mitigation.

Prof. Zhonghua Zhu

is a Professor in the School of Chemical Engineering, at the University of Queensland (UQ). He received his Ph.D. in chemical engineering, from UQ in 2002 and then worked as a Lecturer at Curtin University of Technology from 2002 to 2004. He moved back to UQ at the end of 2004 and has been working in the same school until now. His research interests and expertise are advanced catalysis, gas/liquid and separation, direct carbon fuel cells, and solid‐oxide fuel cells with strong application focus on clean energy and environment.

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Abstract

Acceleration of the oxygen reduction reaction at the cathode is paramount in the development of low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells. At low operating temperatures between 450 and 600 °C, the interactions between the surface and the bulk of the cathode materials greatly impact the electrode kinetics and consequently determine the overall efficacy and long-term stability of the fuel cells. This review will provide an overview of the recent progress in the understanding of surface-bulk interactions in perovskite oxides as well as their impact on cathode reactivity and stability. This review will also summarize current strategies in the development of cathode materials through bulk doping and surface functionalization. In addition, this review will highlight the roles of surface segregation in the mediation of surface and bulk interactions, which have profound impacts on the properties of cathode surfaces and the bulk and therefore overall cathode performance. Although trade-offs between reactivity and stability commonly exist in terms of catalyst design, opportunities also exist in attaining optimal cathode performance through the modulation of both cathode surfaces and bulk using combined strategies. This review will conclude with future research directions involving investigations into the role of oxygen vacancy and mobility in catalysis, the rational modulation of surface-bulk interactions and the use of advanced fabrication techniques, all of which can lead to optimized cathode performance.

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Zhiheng Li, Mengran Li, Zhonghua Zhu. Perovskite Cathode Materials for Low-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: Fundamentals to Optimization. Electrochemical Energy Reviews, 2021, 5(2): 263-311 DOI:10.1007/s41918-021-00098-3