Effect of Nd-deficiency on electrochemical properties of NdBaCo2O6−δ cathode for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells

•A-site Nd-deficiency double perovskite material Nd0.96BaCo2O6−δ was successfully prepared.•Nd0.96BaCo2O6−δ exhibits superior cathode catalytic activity compared to the stoichiometric material NdBaCo2O6−δ.•The lowest area specific resistance is 0.043 Ω cm2 at 700 °C.•The reaction rate limiting step is identified as a charge transfer process.

Nd1−xBaCo2O6−δ (N1−xBCO) is evaluated as cathode materials for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs). The effects of Nd-deficiency on the crystal structure, thermal expansion behavior, electrical conductivity and electrochemical performance are studied. N1−xBCO oxides crystallize in the orthorhombic symmetry with Pmmm space group. A good chemical compatibility between N1−xBCO and CGO electrolyte is found at 1100 °C in air. Introducing Nd-deficiency promotes the formation of oxygen vacancy, and significantly improves the electrochemical performance of N1−xBCO cathodes. The lowest area specific resistance (ASR) value of 0.043 Ω cm2 is obtained on the N0.96BCO cathode at 700 °C in air. The rate limiting step for electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is charge transfer process at the interface. The power output of the electrolyte supported cell Ni-CGO/CGO/N0.96BCO reaches 0.6 W cm−2 at 700 °C.