Tuning the Thickness of Ba-Containing “Functional” Layer toward High-Performance Ceria-Based Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Abstract

Developing highly efficient ceria-based solid oxide fuel cells with high power density is still a big concern for commercial applications. In this work, a novel structured Ce0.8Sm0.2O2-δ (SDC)-based fuel cell with a bilayered anode consisting of Ni-SDC and Ni-BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.2O3-δ (Ni-BZCY) was designed. In addition to the catalysis function, the Ni-BZCY anode "functional" layer also provides Ba source for generating an electron-blocking layer in situ at the anode/electrolyte interface during sintering. The Ni-BZCY thickness significantly influences the quality of the electron-blocking layer and electrochemical performances of the cell. The cell with a 50 μm thick Ni-BZCY layer exhibits the best performance in terms of open circuit voltage (OCV) and peak power density (1068 mW cm(-2) at 650 °C). The results demonstrate that this cell with an optimal structure has a distinct advantage of delivering high power performance with a high efficiency at reduced temperatures.

An investigation of metal ion diffusion in ceria‐based solid oxide fuel cell with barium‐containing anode

“…Figure summarizes the obtained OCVs in comparison with typical reported DCO‐based fuel cells. Compared to cells supported by some traditional anodes (NiO‐SDC or NiO‐GDC), the recorded OCV values are significantly improved either, compare well with other DCO‐based cells supported by barium‐containing anodes or higher than some cells with bilayer electrolytes . Therefore, the prepared diffusion interlayer formed by metal ion diffusion might efficiently eliminate the internal short circuit in DCO‐based SOFCs.…”

“… OCV values of recent typical DCO ‐based SOFC s with/without electron‐blocking layers and OCV values of some bilayer DCO ‐based SOFC s. (A) NiO‐ BZCG | GDC 20 μm, (B) NiO‐ SDC | BZCY 17 μm| SDC 18 μm, (C) NiO‐ BZCY | SDC 13 μm, (D) NiO‐ BZY | SDC 15 μm, (E)NiO‐ YSZ | YSZ 5 μm| SDC 15 μm, (F) NiO‐ YSZ |Ni‐ SDC 15 μm| SDC 10 μm, (G) NiO‐ GDC | GDC 20 μm, (H) NiO‐ SDC | SDC 20 μm, and NiO‐ BZCY | GDC 20 μm in this work [Color figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]…”

“…The latter indicates good stability of the electrodes and firm structure of the interlayer, promising for future durable and practical devices. NiO-BZY|SDC15 lm, 23 (E)NiO-YSZ|YSZ5 lm|SDC15 lm, 27 (F) NiO-YSZ|Ni-SDC15 lm|SDC10 lm, 28 (G) NiO-GDC|GDC20 lm, 24 (H) NiO-SDC|SDC20 lm, 26 and NiO-BZCY|GDC20 lm in this work [Color figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com] elements including Ce, Ba, Gd, Zr, Y, and Ni are present in the grains. Also, the elements are uniformly distributed through the grains without obvious segregation.…”

“…The thickness of the electron‐blocking layer was found highly dependent on the sintering process, and the cell performance can be optimized by adding GDC into anode . Further research demonstrated that NiO‐BZCY employed as electron‐blocking layer can also be used as a catalytic layer to improve the catalysis performances of the anode . The cell with 50 μm thick NiO‐BZCY layer exhibited the best performances in terms of open circuit voltage (1.016 V) and peak power density (1068 mW cm −2 ) at 650°C.…”

Ce0.8Sm0.2O1.9 decorated with electron-blocking acceptor-doped BaCeO3 as electrolyte for low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells

“…to form nanocomposite electrolyte. The anode-supported half cells with the structure of NiO-SDC|BCS-SDC were fabricated by a dry-pressing method[26] and then co-fired at 1400 °C for 5 h. 20 wt.% starch used as pore former was added into the anode substrate. Typical cathode slurry Sm 0.5 Sr 0.5 CoO 3-δ (SSC)-SDC with a weight ratio of 6:4 was brushed on the half cells, and then fired at 950 °C for 2 h to form a porous layer with an active area of 0.237 cm 2 .2.2.…”