Processing SCNT(SrCo0.8Nb0.1Ta0.1O3-δ)-SCDC(Ce0.8Sm0.05Ca0.15O2-δ) composite into semiconductor-ionic membrane fuel cell (SIMFC) to operate below 500 °C

High power density performance at intermediate (600 °C–450 °C) temperatures (IT) must be considered in the development of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). A niobium and tantalum co-doped perovskite material SCNT (SrCo 0. 8 Nb 0 . 1 Ta 0 . 1 O 3-δ ) can be used as a cathode for IT-SOFC due to its (H + /O 2− /e − ) triple conduction and promising catalysis activity. In this work, the SCNT was composited with ionic conductor SCDC(Ce 0.8 Sm 0.05 Ca 0 . 15 O 2-δ ) and processed as electrolyte membrane into semiconductor-ionic membrane fuel cell (SIMFC), which delivered an appreciable performance at IT, i.e., a peak power output of 1016 mW/cm 2 at 550 °C and 401 mW/cm 2 at 450 °C, respectively. The high performance mainly originated from the (H + /O 2− ) dual-ion conduction of SCNT as well as the high oxygen ion conductivity of SCDC, the SCNT-SCDC electrolyte layer adjacent to cathode have promoted the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) with some extent because of the excellent catalysis activity of SCNT. Moreover, the on-line generated carbonate suppressed the electronic conductivity and resulted in the attractive density of SCNT-SCDC electrolyte to further contribute to the desired cell performance.