Effect of doped ceria interlayer on cathode performance of the electrochemical cell using proton conducting oxide

Introduction of doped ceria interlayer to cathode/electrolyte interface of the electrochemical cell with proton conducting electrolyte was investigated using thin Ce0.8Yb0.2O2−δ (YbDC) interlayer of about 500 nm thickness. YbDC interlayer conducted a large amount of protons as much as 170 mA cm−2. It was also found that cathode overpotential of the YbDC interlayer cells consistently showed a plateau at about 400 mV, at which that of the non-interlayer cells did not show, suggesting a possibility that cathode reaction is changed by introducing the doped ceria interlayer. This result also indicates that the interlayer showed high activity for cathode reaction when enough cathodic bias was applied. Especially, the interlayer showed high activity for the improvement of poor cathode reaction between SrZr0.9Y0.1O3−α (SZY-91) electrolyte and platinum cathode.

► Ce0.8Yb0.2O2−δ (YbDC) interlayer conducted a large amount of protons.
► YbDC can work as cathode interlayer for proton conducting electrolyte cells.
► Cathode overpotential of the YbDC interlayer cells showed a plateau at about 400 mV.