Novel Ba0.5Sr0.5(Co0.8Fe0.2)1 − xTixO3 − δ (x = 0, 0.05, and 0.1) cathode materials for proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cells

Ba0.5Sr0.5(Co0.8Fe0.2)1 − xTixO3 − δ (x = 0, 0.05, and 0.1) materials were successfully prepared via an improved solid-state reaction route in an attempt to get better chemical stability for Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3 − δ (BSCF). Stability tests showed that the novel Ti-doping strategy can effectively increase the chemical stability for Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3 − δ in CO2-containing environments. The larger the Ti doping amount, the better the chemical stability. Ti-doped samples showed only a slight increase in area specific resistance (ASR) values, as shown from electrochemical tests performed on symmetrical cells. Therefore, anode-supported single fuel cells using BaZr0.4Ce0.4Y0.2O3 − δ (BZCY) as the electrolyte and BZCY-Ba0.5Sr0.5(Co0.8Fe0.2)0.9Ti0.1O3 − δ as the composite cathode, were fabricated and tested. The measured maximum power density values were 181, 116, and 49 mW cm− 2 at 700, 600, and 500 °C, respectively.

► Ti-doped Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3-δ was successfully synthesized.
► Ti-doping strategy improved the chemical stability for Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3-δ.
► Electrochemical performance was only slightly decreased with the addition of Ti.
► The cell with the novel cathode showed a reasonable performance.