Startling new reports on climate change demands an acceleration on the progress of renewable energies in order to reduce carbon emissions. Among various energy sources that can be integrated into renewables, solid oxide cells (SOCs) top the list in terms of fuel flexibility. SOC is an electrochemical cell in which ceramic electrolyte is sandwiched between two porous electrodes. Lowering SOCs’ operating temperature (800 – 1000 °C) to intermediate temperature (IT) (500 – 700 °C) has been one of the key research areas to expand material selections and lower the cost. However, IT-SOC’s cathode, in particular, faces the issue of slower kinetics for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Several mixed ion-electron conducting (MIEC) cathode materials for ITs [1-3] have been tested to compensate the lower power output due to reduced temperatures, where challenges remain for solving stability and compatibility issues. Here, we report, the effect of doping Nd and Cu in A- and B-site of various Ba- and Sr-based perovskite-type MIECs, as potential cathodes for IT-SOCs [4-5]. Mechanism of ORR reactions through aforementioned MIECs will also be discussed.

References

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