Triple-conducting Zn-doped Pr1.8Ba0.2NiO4+8 air electrodes for proton ceramic electrolysis cells

Proton ceramic electrolysis cells (PCECs), electrochemical devices that convert electrical energy into chemical energy, have attracted increasing interest; however, their development has been severely limited by the slow kinetics of the air electrodes. Therefore, this paper reports a novel Zn-doped Pr1.8Ba0.2NiO4+8 (PBN) air electrode material in terms of crystal structure, phases, surface chemistry, hydration and conduction behaviors, and electrochemical performance in PCECs. The results show that the optimal Zn doping amount is 0.1 mol replacing Ni (Pr1.8Ba0.2Ni0.9Zn0.1O4+8, PBNZ1). The PBNZ1 cell achieves a maximum power density of 1.36 W cm-2 in fuel cell mode at 700 degrees C, while it exhibits an electrolysis current density of 2.95 A cm-2 at 700 degrees C and 1.3 V, which is 30% higher than that of the PBN cell. This improvement can be attributed to the acceleration of charge transfer processes in the air electrode through Zn doping.

Automated summary

This study reports a novel Zn-doped Pr1.8Ba0.2NiO4+8 (PBNZ1) air electrode material and analyzes its crystal structure, phases, surface chemistry, hydration and conduction behaviors, and electrochemical performance. The results show that the Zn doping significantly improves the charge transfer processes in the air electrode, leading to higher electrolysis current density and power density.