Stable, easily sintered BaCe0.5Zr0.3Y0.16Zn0.04O3-δ electrolyte-based proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cells by gel-casting and suspension spray

Abstract

Protonic ceramic membrane fuel cells (PCMFCs) based on oxide proton conductors exhibit more advantages than traditional solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) based on oxygen-ion conducting electrolytes, such as low activation energy and high energy efficiency. In order to develop a simple and cost-effective route to fabricate PCMFCs with SrCo0.9Sb0.1O3-δ (SCS) cubic perovskite cathode, a dense BaCe0.5Zr0.3Y0.16Zn0.04O3-δ (BCZYZn) electrolyte was fabricated in situ metal oxide on a porous anode support by gel-casting and suspension spray, which is cost-effective, easy to realize, and suitable for mass-production. The key part of this process is to directly spray well-mixed suspension of BaCO3, CeO2, ZrO2, Y2O3 and ZnO instead of pre-synthesized BCZYZn ceramic powder on the anode substrate. With SCS cubic perovskite cathode synthesized by gel-casting on the bi-layer, single cells were assembled and tested with H2 as fuel and the static air as oxidant. An open-circuit potential of 0.987 V, a maximum power density of 364 mW cm-2, and a low polarization resistance of the electrodes of 0.07 Ω cm2 was achieved at 700 °C. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.