New insights in the polarization resistance of anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells with La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3 cathodes

In this study, the polarization resistance of anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) with La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3 (LSCF) cathodes was investigated by I–V sweep and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy under a series of operating voltages and cathode environments (i.e. stagnant air, flowing air, and flowing oxygen) at temperatures from 550 °C to 750 °C. In flowing oxygen, the polarization resistance of the fuel cell decreased considerably with the applied current density. A linear relationship was observed between the ohmic-free over-potential and the logarithm of the current density of the fuel cell at all the measuring temperatures. In stagnant or flowing air, an arc related to the molecular oxygen diffusion through the majority species (molecular nitrogen) present in the pores of the cathode was identified at high temperatures and high current densities. The magnitude of this arc increased linearly with the applied current density due to the decreased oxygen partial pressure at the interface of the cathode and the electrolyte. It is found that the performance of the fuel cell in air is mainly determined by the oxygen diffusion process. Elimination of this process by flowing pure oxygen to the cathode improved the cell performance significantly. At 750 °C, for a fuel cell with a laser-deposited Sm0.2Ce0.8O1.9 (SDC) interlayer, an extraordinarily high power density of 2.6 W cm−2 at 0.7 V was achieved in flowing oxygen, as a result of reduced ohmic and polarization resistance of the fuel cell, which were 0.06 Ω cm2 and 0.03 Ω cm2, respectively. The results indicate that microstructural optimization of the LSCF cathode or adoption of a new cell design which can mitigate the oxygen diffusion limitation in the cathode might enhance cell performance significantly.