BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.1Yb0.1O3−δ electrolyte-based solid oxide fuel cells with cobalt-free PrBaFe2O5+δ layered perovskite cathode

A new anode-supported SOFC material system Ni-BZCYYb|BZCYYb|PBFO is investigated, in which a cobalt-free layered perovskite oxide, PrBaFe2O5+δ (PBFO), is synthesized and employed as a novel cathode while the synthesized BZCYYb is used as an electrolyte. The cell is fabricated by a simple dry-pressing/co-sintering process. The cell is tested and characterized under intermediate temperature range from 600 to 700 °C with humified H2 (∼3% H2O) as fuel, ambient air as oxidant. The results show that the open-circuit potential of 1.006 V and maximal power density of 452 mW cm−2 are achieved at 700 °C. The polarization resistance of the electrodes is 0.18 Ω cm2 at 700 °C. Compared to BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.1O3−δ, the conductivity of co-doped barium zirconate–cerate BZCYYb is significantly improved. The ohmic resistance of single cell is 0.37 Ω cm2 at 700 °C. The results indicate that the developed Ni-BZCYYb|BZCYYb|PBFO cell is a promising functional material system for SOFCs.