Nanostructured CuCo2O4 cathode for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells via an impregnation technique

Spinel structure CuCo2O4 nanoparticles are coated onto porous 10mol% scandia stabilized zirconia (SSZ) framework via a solution impregnation process. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and current-voltage performance measurements have been used to characterize impregnated CuCo2O4 cathodes. The CuCo2O4 nano-particles are uniformly distributed on the surface of the porous SSZ backbones, thus increasing the length of the triple phase boundaries (TPBs). As expected, the polarization resistance of impregnated nanostructured CuCo2O4 is as low as 0.087 Ωcm2 in air at 800 °C, and delivers a high peak power density of 1136 mW cm−2.