Electrochemical performance of Nd1.93Sr0.07CuO4 nanofiber as cathode material for SOFC

Nd1.93Sr0.07CuO4 nanofibers are prepared by electrospinning technique followed by a simple thermal treatment. The morphology and phase evolution of as-obtained fibers are characterized by TG-DTA, XRD, FT-IR and SEM, respectively. Typical ceramic fiber diameter is 100–200 nm, with length exceeding tens of microns. Rapid heating the nanofiber cathode at 1000 °C for 15 min results in homogeneous porous microstructure and good contact with the CGO electrolyte. EIS analysis of the nanofiber electrode gives a polarization resistance of 0.26 Ω cm2 at 700 °C in air, two times smaller than that from the powder cathode with the same composition. The excellent electrochemical performance can be attributed to the well constructed microstructure of the fiber cathode, which can promote surface oxygen diffusion or adsorption processes on the cathode.

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► Nd1.93Sr0.07CuO4 nanofibers are prepared by electrospun method.
► The fiber cathode gives the lowest ASR value of 0.26 Ω cm2 at 700 °C in air.
► The charge transfer process is the reaction rate limiting step.
► The fiber morphology of cathode promotes surface oxygen diffusion or adsorption processes.