Application of a novel (Pr0.9La0.1)2(Ni0.74Cu0.21Nb0.05)O4+δ-infiltrated BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.2O3-δ cathode for high performance protonic ceramic fuel cells

A Ruddlesden-Popper oxide (Pr0.9La0.1)2(Ni0.74Cu0.21Nb0.05)O4+δ (PLNCN)-infiltrated BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.2O3-δ (BZCY) is developed as an electrode for protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs). PLNCN nanoparticles are evenly dispersed on the surface of BZCY skeleton by using the infiltration technology. The electrochemical behavior of the PLNCN-infiltrated BZCY electrodes are evaluated in terms of infiltration loading and temperature. The impedance results of symmetric cells suggest that the optimized loading of PLNCN is approximately 46.1 wt%. Power density of the single cell as high as 0.77 W cm−2 is achieved at 700 °C by using the 43.6 wt% PLNCN-infiltrated BZCY cathode, and the cell could be operated without degradation at 600 °C for 200 h; this finding indicates a promising alternative cathode for PCFCs.