Semiconductor ionic based Sm0.2Ce0.8O2−δ-La0.6Sr0.4Fe0.8Cu0.2O3-δ heterostructure for low temperature ceramic fuel cells

Structural design/doping strategy is an efficient method to prepare electrolytes with high oxygen ionic conductivity , but there is still hindrance for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) commercialization. Recent advances in semiconductor ionic materials have developed a novel strategy in designing low-temperature electrolyte materials. Here, a heterostructure composite of LSFC (La 0.6 Sr 0.4 Fe 0.8 Cu 0.2 O 3-δ ) and SDC (Sm 0.2 Ce 0.8 O 2−δ ) is developed. The LSFC-SDC composite exhibits a high ionic conductivity, >0.1S/cm at 550 °C. With symmetrical NCAL (Ni 0.8 Co 0.15 Al 0.05 LiO 2-δ )-coated electrode, cells with SDC-LSFC electrolyte exhibit high open-circuit voltage (OCV), and achieve a significant power improvement (>1000 mW/cm 2 ) compared with pure SDC electrolyte at 550 °C. The short-term stability result has proven the operating ability of SDC-LSFC electrolyte under fuel cell environment (H 2 /air). This work demonstrates a new developing route of low-temperature solid oxide fuel cell (LTSOFC), which is different from the conventional SOFC.