High-temperature transport properties of BaSn1−xScxO3−δ ceramic materials as promising electrolytes for protonic ceramic fuel cells

Abstract

Protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs) offer a convenient means for electrochemical conversion of chemical energy into electricity at intermediate temperatures with very high efficiency. Although BaCeO3- and BaZrO3-based complex oxides have been positioned as the most promising PCFC electrolytes, the design of new protonic conductors with improved properties is of paramount importance. Within the present work, we studied transport properties of scandium-doped barium stannate (Sc-doped BaSnO3). Our analysis included the fabrication of porous and dense BaSn1−xScxO3−δ ceramic materials (0 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.37), as well as a comprehensive analysis of their total, ionic, and electronic conductivities across all the experimental conditions realized under the PCFC operation: both air and hydrogen atmospheres with various water vapor partial pressures (p(H2O)), and a temperature range of 500–900 °C. This work reports on electrolyte domain boundaries of the undoped and doped BaSnO3 for the first time, revealing that pure BaSnO3 exhibits mixed ionic-electronic conduction behavior under both oxidizing and reducing conditions, while the Sc-doping results in the gradual improvement of ionic (including protonic) conductivity, extending the electrolyte domain boundaries towards reduced atmospheres. This latter property makes the heavily-doped BaSnO3 representatives attractive for PCFC applications.

Successful preparation of BaCo 0.5Fe 0.5O 3– δ cathode oxide by rapidly cooling allowing for high-performance proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cells

“…Therefore, developing SOFCs that can work at intermediate temperatures is the primary task [6]. SOFCs using proton-conducting electrolytes, known as proton-conducting SOFCs, can operate at lower temperatures than traditional SOFCs due to the high ionic conductivity of proton-conducting electrolytes at intermediate temperatures [7]. Indeed, the research on H-SOFCs is a hot topic in the community [8].…”

Attempted preparation of La 0.5Ba 0.5MnO 3− δ leading to an in-situ formation of manganate nanocomposites as a cathode for proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cells

“…Although the high conductivity and low activation energy of proton-conducting electrolytes are advantageous for lowering the operating temperature of SOFCs [13][14][15][16],…”

Constructed TiO 2/WO 3 heterojunction with strengthened nano-trees structure for highly stable electrochromic energy storage device

“…Energy-saving and storage are indispensable to address the issue of rapidly increasing energy consumption for buildings, and it is therefore imperative to explore materials which can efficiently manipulate solar radiation [1][2][3]. Electrochromic (EC) materials can undergo reversible chromatic transition when a small external potential is applied, endowing them with sunlight regulation and energy-saving features [4,5].…”