High performance protonic ceramic membrane fuel cells (PCMFCs) with Ba0.5Sr0.5Zn0.2Fe0.8O3−δ perovskite cathode

Protonic ceramic membrane fuel cells (PCMFCs) based on proton-conducting electrolytes have attracted much attention because of many advantages, such as low activation energy and high energy efficiency. BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.2O3−δ (BZCY7) electrolyte based PCMFCs with stable Ba0.5Sr0.5Zn0.2Fe0.8O3−δ (BSZF) perovskite cathode were investigated. Using thin membrane BZCY7 electrolyte (about 15 μm in thickness) synthesized by a modified Pechini method on NiO-BZCY7 anode support, PCMFCs were assembled and tested by selecting stable BSZF perovskite cathode. An open-circuit potential of 1.015 V, a maximum power density of 486 mW cm−2, and a low polarization resistance of the electrodes of 0.08 Ω cm2 was achieved at 700 °C. The results have indicated that BZCY7 proton-conducting electrolyte with BSZF cathode is a promising material system for the next generation solid oxide fuel cells.