As highly efficient energy conversion devices, solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) have received considerable attention recently. Here, we present novel ways for developing nano composite cathodes with superior electrocatalytic activity and improved stability for reduced temperature SOFCs. (i) Silver-modified Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3-d (BSCF) cathodes were prepared by an electroless deposition process with silver particles (~500 nm) dispersed well over the BSCF surface. (ii) (La0.8Sr0.2)0.95Ag0.05MnO3-d cathodes were prepared with silver intercalation/de-intercalation capability; under cathodic polarization, silver can be extracted from perovskite lattice to form a nano-size silver (5-15 nm) modified A-site cation deficient electrode, any performance degradation due to silver sintering can be easily in situ restored by re-intercalating silver into the perovskite lattice under anodic polarization. (iii) Heterostructured electrodes with a thin film shell were fabricated by simply treating porous BSCF backbone with microwave-plasma, which shows significantly enhanced electrocatalytic activity due to the high oxygen surface exchange rate of the thin film Ba0.5-xSr0.5-yCo0.8Fe0.2O3-d (BSCF-D) shell.

High-performance nano cathodes for solid-oxide fuel cells

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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