Effect of samarium doped ceria nanoparticles impregnation on the performance of anode supported SOFC with (Pr0.7Ca0.3)0.9MnO3−δ cathode

Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) electrodes, after a high temperature sintering, may be impregnated to deposit nanoparticles within their pores to enhance the catalytic function. Samarium doped CeO2 (SDC) nanoparticles were infiltrated into (Pr0.7Ca0.3)0.9MnO3−δ (PCM) cathode of anode supported SOFC cells. The cell with 2.6 mg/cm2 SDC impregnated in cathode showed the maximum power density of 580 mW/cm2 compared with 310 mW/cm2 of the cell without impregnation at 850 °C. The cells were also characterized with the impedance spectra, and the SDC impregnation significantly reduced the polarization resistance. After performance test the cells were characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the cathode morphology showed the impregnated SDC particles were nanosized and were deposited on the surface of the PCM framework. The possible mechanism for the performance improvement was discussed.