(La0.74Bi0.10Sr0.16)MnO3−δ–Ce0.8Gd0.2O2−δ cathodes fabricated by ion-impregnating method for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells

Porous composite cathodes were fabricated by impregnating (La0.74Bi0.10Sr0.16)MnO3−δ (LBSM) electronic conducting structure with the ionic conducting Ce0.8Gd0.2O2−δ (GDC) phase. The ion impregnation of the GDC phase significantly enhanced the electrocatalytic activity of the LBSM electrodes for the O2 reduction reactions, and the ion-impregnated LBSM–GDC composite cathodes showed excellent performance. At 700 °C, the value of the cathode polarization resistance (Rc) was only 0.097 Ω cm2 for an ion-impregnated LBSM–GDC cathode, and the performance was gradually improved by increasing the loading of the impregnated GDC. For the performance testing of single cells, the maximum power density was 1036 mW cm−2 at 700 °C for a cell with the LBSM–GDC cathode. The results demonstrated the unique combination of the LBSM electronic conducting structure with high ionic conducting GDC phase was a valid method to improve the electrode performance, and the ion-impregnated LBSM–GDC was a promising composite cathode material for the intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells.