In situ drop-coated BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.2O3−δ electrolyte-based proton-conductor solid oxide fuel cells with a novel layered PrBaCuFeO5+δ cathode

In order to develop a simple and cost-effective route to fabricate proton-conductor intermediate-temperature SOFCs, a dense BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.2O3−δ (BZCY) electrolyte was fabricated on a porous anode by in situ drop-coating. The PrBaCuFeO5+δ (PBCF) composite oxide with layered perovskite structure was synthesized by auto ignition process and examined as a novel cathode for proton-conductor IT-SOFCs. The single cell, consisting of PBCF/BZCY/NiO-BZCY structure, was assembled and tested from 600 to 700 °C with humidified hydrogen (∼3% H2O) as the fuel and the static air as the oxidant. An open-circuit potential of 1.01 V and a maximum power density of 445 mW cm−2 at 700 °C were obtained for the single cell. A relatively low interfacial polarization resistance of 0.15 Ω cm2 at 700 °C indicated that the PBCF is a promising cathode for proton-conductor IT-SOFCs.