High Performance Proton-Conducting Solid Oxide Fuel Cells with a Layered Perovskite GdBaCuCoO5+xCathode

Proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cell (H-SOFC) based on layered perovskite type GdBaCuCoO5+x(GBCC) cathode was fabricated with in situ drop-coating BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.2O3−δ(BZCY) electrolyte membrane. The influences of Cu doping into Co sites of GdBaCo2O5+xon the electrical conductivity and conduction mechanism, thermal expansion property and electrochemical performance of cathode materials and corresponding single cell were investigated. Results show that the electrical conductivity decreased and the conduction mechanism would gradually transform to the semiconductor-like behavior. A high maximum power density of 480 mW cm−2was obtained for the anode supported NiO–BZCY/NiO–BZCY/BZCY/GBCC single cells with wet H2fuel at 700 °C. The corresponding polarization resistance was as low as 0.17 Ω cm2. The excellent electrochemical performance of as-prepared single cell indicates that GBCC is a good candidate of cathode materials for H-SOFCs.