Nanofiber-structured Pr_0.4Sr_0.6Co_0.2Fe_0.7Nb_0.1O_3-δ-Gd_0.2Ce_0.8O_1.9 symmetrical composite electrode for solid oxide fuel cells

In this research, nanofiber-structured Pr_0.4Sr_0.6Co_0.2Fe_0.7Nb_0.1O_3-δ (PSCFN) electrode scaffolds were impregnated with Gd_0.2Ce_0.8O_1.9 (GDC) nanoparticles to prepare PSCFN-GDC nanofiber-structured composite electrodes, which could function well as a novel electrode material for symmetrical solid oxide fuel cells (SSOFCs). The polarization resistances of PSCFN-GDC (1:0.56) composite electrodes as cathode and anode were 0.044 and 0.309 Ω cm² at 800 °C, respectively, indicating that the composite electrodes demonstrated excellent electrochemical performances for both oxygen reductions and fuel oxidation reactions. La_0.8Sr_0.2Ga_0.8Mg_0.2O_3-δ (LSGM) electrolyte-supported single cells with the PSCFN-GDC symmetrical composite electrodes showed excellent long-term stability in wet H₂ (97% H₂-3% H₂O) and wet CH₄ (97% CH₄-3% H₂O) for 100 h with constant current density at 800 °C. A conversion electrode method was applied by interchanging the atmosphere of cathode and anode to solve the problem of PSCFN-GDC symmetrical single cell's carbon deposition in wet CH₄. After working three cycles for 384 h, carbon deposition was not found in the symmetrical electrode scaffold. Taken together, the results described above demonstrated that the PSCFN-GDC composite material acted as a promising symmetrical electrode for SSOFCs, and the conversion electrode method would make for a good application to process carbon deposition generated by hydrocarbon fuels.