Cobalt-free Sr0.7Y0.3CuO2+δ as a cathode for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cell

• Cobalt-free Sr0.7Y0.3CuO2+δ (SYCu) was evaluated as candidate cathode for IT-SOFCs.
• The polarization resistance of SYCu was as low as 0.029 Ω cm2 at 800 °C.
• SYCu exhibited good physical compatibility with cerium based electrolyte.

Cobalt-free oxide Sr0.7Y0.3CuO2+δ (SYCu) with one-dimensional structure has been investigated as potential cathode material for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell (IT-SOFC) applications. The crystal structure, chemical compatibility, thermal expansion and electrochemical performance were examined by X-ray diffraction technique, electrochemical workstation and thermal dilatometer. One-dimensional structure Sr1−xYxCuO2+δ and Sr2−xYxCuO3+δ phases appeared as the main parts after calcination above 900 °C. The copper based oxide SYCu showed a thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) about 11.1 × 10−6/°C at 25–800 °C, exhibiting good physical compatibility with samarium doped cerium (SDC) electrolyte. High electro-catalytic performance was obtained for SYCu cathode in a symmetrical cell with a polarization resistance (Rp) of 0.029 Ω cm2 and an overpotential of 4.9 mV at 100 mA/cm2 at 800 °C, showing great promising use as cathode materials for IT-SOFCs. In addition, the polarization resistance of SYCu cathode remain constant after operation at 800 °C for 100 h, showing excellent long-term stability at operation temperature.