Modified La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-δ cathodes with the infiltration of Er0.4Bi1.6O3 for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells

Aiming to lower the activation energy and expedite the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) process of La 0.6 Sr 0.4 Co 0.2 Fe 0.8 O 3-δ (LSCF) cathodes for application in intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs), Er 0.4 Bi 1.6 O 3 (ESB) modified LSCF was prepared by infiltrating using organic solvents . The infiltration of ESB dramatically reduces the polarization resistances of LSCF cathodes (from 0.27 to 0.11 Ω cm 2 at 700 °C, from 0.58 to 0.25 Ω cm 2 at 650 °C), and lowers their activation energy (from 100.28 to 97.15 kJ mol −1 ). Also, ESB makes the rate-limiting step of LSCF cathodes at high frequency change from the charge transfer process on the cathode to the adsorption and diffusion of oxygen on cathode surface . The single cell with ESB infiltrated LSCF cathodes shows a peak power density of 469 mW cm −2 at 700 °C using humid hydrogen and air as fuels and oxidants, respectively, as well as a good short-term stability for 50 h.