Novel nano-structured Pd+yttrium doped ZrO2 cathodes for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells

Novel nano-structured Pd+yttrium doped ZrO2 (YSZ) electrodes have been developed as cathodes of intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs). Nano-sized Pd particles were introduced into the rigid and porous YSZ structure by PdCl2 solution impregnation. The results show that Pd nanoparticles (20–80 nm) were uniformly distributed in the porous YSZ structure; and such nano-structured composite cathodes were highly active for the O2 reduction reaction, with polarization resistances (RE) of 0.11 and 0.22 Ω cm2 at 750 and 700 °C and activation energy of 105 kJ mol−1 that is significantly lower than those for the conventional perovskite-based cathodes (130–201 kJ mol−1).