Perovskite La0.5Sr0.5Co0.2Fe0.8O3 (LSCF) usually acts as both cathode
and anode
in a reversible solid oxide cell (RSOC). It is found that the traditional
preparation method can be improved to reduce the particle size, increase
the specific surface area, and enhance the oxygen vacancy concentration
of LSCF, further improving its bifunctional electrocatalytic activity
toward oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and hydrogen oxidation reaction
(HOR). Compared with that of LSCF prepared by the traditional solid-state
reaction method, the oxygen vacancy concentration of LSCF prepared
by the hard-template method is increased. Moreover, the LSCF prepared
by the hard-template method shows better catalytic activity for HOR
and ORR. In addition, the rate-determining steps for HOR and ORR on
the surface of LSCF prepared by the hard-template method are the charge
transfer reaction and the reduction of oxygen atoms to O–, respectively. Furthermore, a single-component fuel cell and a reversible
single-component cell composed of LSCF prepared by the hard-template
method exhibit better performance for discharge and water electrolysis.