Synthesis of Pr0.6Sr0.4FeO3−δ–xCe0.9Pr0.1O2−δ cobalt-free composite cathodes by a one-pot method for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells

• Pr0.6Sr0.4FeO3−δ–xCe0.9Pr0.1O2−δ (x = 0–50 wt%) were prepared by a one-pot method.
• The Gd0.1Ce0.9O1.95 interlayer was attained by a spin-coating method.
• Pr0.6Sr0.4FeO3−δ–40Ce0.9Pr0.1O2−δ exhibits the lowest polarization resistance.
• The discharge performance of cell with Pr0.6Sr0.4FeO3−δ–40Ce0.9Pr0.1O2−δ is optimal.

Cobalt-free composite cathodes consisting of Pr0.6Sr0.4FeO3−δ–xCe0.9Pr0.1O2−δ (PSFO-xCPO, x = 0–50 wt%) have been synthesized using a one-pot method. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, thermal expansion coefficient, conductivity, and polarization resistance (RP) have been used to characterize the PSFO-xCPO cathodes. Furthermore the discharge performance of the Ni-SSZ/SSZ/GDC/PSFO-xCPO cells has been measured. The experimental results indicate that the PSFO-xCPO composite materials fully consist of PSFO and CPO phases and posses a porous microstructure. The conductivity of PSFO-xCPO decreases with the increase of CPO content, but RP of PSFO-40CPO shows the smallest value amongst all the samples. The power density of single cells with a PSFO-40CPO composite cathode is significantly improved compared with that of the PSFO cathode, exhibiting 0.43, 0.75, 1.08 and 1.30 W cm−2 at 650, 700, 750 and 800 °C, respectively. In addition, single cells with the PSFO-40CPO composite cathode show a stable performance with no obvious degradation over 100 h when operating at 750 °C.

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