High performance of intermediate temperature solid oxide electrolysis cells using Nd2NiO4+δ impregnated scandia stabilized zirconia oxygen electrode

•Novel impregnated NNO-SSZ composite oxygen electrode is prepared.•Current density of 1.081 A cm−2 is obtained at 800 °C and 1.3 V.•Short term durability test shows no degradation.

Nano-structured Nd2NiO4+δ(NNO) impregnated scandia stabilized zirconia (SSZ) is studied as the oxygen electrode of solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs). The hydrogen electrode-supported single cell with Ni–Zr0.92Y0.16O2.08 (YSZ) hydrogen electrode, SSZ electrolyte and impregnated NNO-SSZ composite oxygen electrode is prepared by a tape casting, co-firing and impregnation method. The electrochemical properties of the cell are investigated in the electrolysis mode. At the voltage of 1.3 V, current densities of 1.081, 0.677, 0.441 and 0.23 A cm−2 are obtained at 800, 750, 700 and 650 °C respectively. The cell also exhibits comparable performance with variation of the steam-to-hydrogen ratio (50/50 to 80/20) at 750 °C. Additionally, the short-term durability in the electrolysis mode of the cell is also studied.