Infiltrated SmBa0.5Sr0.5Co2O5+δ cathodes for metal–supported solid oxide fuel cells

•Infiltrated SmBa0.5Sr0.5Co2O5+δ cathode for MS–SOFC is evaluated.•Polarization resistance of the cathode is 0.054 Ω cm2 at 700 °C.•No degradation is found after the 35 thermal cycles for the cathode.•Power density output of the fuel cell can be as high as 1.25 W cm−2 at 700 °C.

This paper reports the fabrication of the SmBa0.5Sr0.5Co2O5+δ (SBSCO) infiltrated scandia–stabilized–zirconia (SSZ) composite cathode for metal–supported solid oxide fuel cells (MS–SOFCs). The effects of the calcination temperature on the structure, morphology and polarization resistance of the composite cathode were studied. Cathode calcinated at 700 °C showed the finest microstructure and the lowest polarization resistance, e.g., 0.054 and 0.172 Ω cm2 at 700 and 600 °C, respectively. Thermal shock resistance of the composite cathode was studied and no degradation was found after the 35 thermal cycles conducted between 100 and 600 °C with a rate of 10 °C min−1. MS–SOFC with the SBSCO infiltrated SSZ cathode was prepared and the maximum power density (MPD) can be as high as 1.25, 0.92, 0.61 and 0.39 W cm−2 when measured at 700, 650, 600 and 550 °C, respectively.