Electrochemical performances of spinel oxides as cathodes for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells

The spinel-type oxides of (Mn, Co, Cu)3O4 prepared via a citric–EDTA acid process were investigated as candidate cathodes of intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs). (Mn, Co)3O4 spinel oxide shows a phase transition from tetragonal to cubic when the doping amount of cobalt element increases. Their electric conductivities increase with the cobalt content and are enough high for them used as cathodes of IT-SOFCs. A fuel cell with (Mn, Co)3O4 spinel cathode was successfully evaluated based on YSZ electrolyte. (Mn, Co)3O4 spinel cathodes show good electrochemical activities, demonstrating the feasibility of the spinel oxide being a cathode of IT-SOFC. As copper doped into (Mn, Co)3O4 spinel, the Ppeak for Cu0.5MnCo1.5O4 cathode rise to 343, 474 and 506 mW cm−2 at 700, 750 and 800 °C, respectively. The results reveal that the spinel-type oxides are promising cathodes for IT-SOFCs, especially for Cu0.5MnCo1.5O4.

► Spinel-type oxides are feasible to be candidate cathodes for IT-SOFC. ► The fuel cell with (Mn, Co)3O4 spinel cathode shows good electrochemical performance. ► As Cu doped into (Mn, Co)3O4, an enhanced performance is obtained for Cu0.5MnCo1.5O4.