BCY-based proton conducting ceramic cell: 1000Â h of long term testing in fuel cell application

A Protonic Ceramic Fuel Cell based on commercial powder has been made by wet chemical routes. The NiO-BaCe0.9Y0.1O3−δ substrate was initially elaborated by tape-casting, pre-sintered then a BaCe0.9Y0.1O3−δ electrolyte was deposited by screen printing method. The whole half-cell is co-fired then Nd2NiO4+δ cathode is coated by screen-printing onto half-cells. A high and stable open circuit voltage was measured at the operating temperature of 600 °C (OCV = 1.06 V), indicating excellent gas-tightness of the protonic ceramic membrane. Although, the single cell shows modest power density of 60 mW cm−2, for the first time, nearly 1000 h at 600 °C have been successfully operated without any loss voltage. Post-test analysis didn't evidence any delamination, reactivity or decomposition of any layer, meaning a good chemical stability of selected materials during fuel cell operation.