Cobalt-Free BaFe_0.6Zr_0.1Y_0.3O_3−δ Oxygen Electrode for Reversible Protonic Ceramic Electrochemical Cells

Abstract

Reversible protonic ceramic electrochemical cells (R-PCECs) are ideal, high-efficiency devices that are environmentally friendly and have a modular design. This paper studies BaFe_0.6Zr_0.1Y_0.3O_3−δ (BFZY3) as a cobalt-free perovskite oxygen electrode for high-performance R-PCECs where Y ions doping can increase the concentration of oxygen vacancies with a remarkable increase in catalytic performance. The cell with configuration of Ni-BZCYYb/BZCYYb/BFZY3 demonstrated promising performance in dual modes of fuel cells (FCs) and electrolysis cells (ECs) at 650 °C with low polarization resistance of 0.13 Ω cm², peak power density of 546.59 mW/cm² in FC mode, and current density of − 1.03 A/cm² at 1.3 V in EC mode. The alternative operation between FC and EC modes for up to eight cycles with a total of 80 h suggests that the cell with BFZY3 is exceptionally stable and reversible over the long term. The results indicated that BFZY3 has considerable potential as an air electrode material for R-PCECs, permitting efficient oxygen reduction and water splitting.

Keywords

Protonic ceramic cells / Oxygen electrode / Perovskite oxides / Cobalt-free / Oxygen vacancies

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