Enhancing performance of stabilized bismuth oxide-based cathodes via infiltration process for LT-SOFCs

Abstract

Nanostructured La<inf>0.8</inf>Sr<inf>0.2</inf>MnO<inf>3-δ</inf> (LSM) - Er<inf>0.4</inf>Bi<inf>1.6</inf>O<inf>3</inf> (ESB) composite cathodes for lower temperature solid oxide fuel cells (LT-SOFCs) were developed via infiltration process. The perovskite phase of LSM nanoparticles deposited on the porous ESB scaffold was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The microstructural evolution of the established nanostructures was observed using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The cathodic polarization resistances of the developed cathodes on GDC were measured by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and compared to the conventional LSM-ESB composite cathodes. The resultant area specific resistance (ASR) of the LSM infiltrated ESB cathodes was 1.24 Ω-cm2 at 600°C, which is ∼34% lower than that of the conventional LSM-ESB composite cathode (1.88 Ω-cm2), primarily due to enhanced ORR activities with increased TPB density in the nanostructured cathodes. © The Electrochemical Society.