Cobalt-free perovskite BaFe0.85Cu0.15O3-δ cathode material for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells

• BaFe0.85Cu0.15O3-δ cathode materials are studied for applications in SOFCs.
• Cathode material gave the lowest polarization resistance of 0.35 Ω cm2 at 700 °C.
• Two main oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) processes are identified.

A cobalt-free cubic perovskite oxide, BaFe0.85Cu0.15O3-δ (BFC), is successfully prepared and evaluated as a novel cathode for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs). The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results show that BFC cathode is chemically compatible with the electrolyte Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95 (CGO) even 950 °C. The DC conductivity measurements demonstrate that BFC possesses the modest electrical conductivity of 7.5–16.0 S cm−1 in air. The electrode performance of the BFC is measured under different oxygen partial pressures at various temperatures. The polarization resistances (RP) of the BFC cathode on CGO electrolyte is 0.35, 0.73 and 1.90 Ω cm2 at 700, 650, 600 °C in air, respectively. Two main oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) processes are identified at the BFC interface. The rate-limiting step for the ORR is determined to be the oxygen adsorption-desorption process. The excellent electrochemical performance indicates that BFC can be used as a promising cathode material for IT-SOFCs.

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