Electrochemical performances of spinel oxides as cathodes for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells

The spinel-type oxides of (Mn, Co, Cu)(3)O-4 prepared via a citric EDTA acid process were investigated as candidate cathodes of intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs). (Mn, Co)(3)O-4 spinel oxide shows a phase transition from tetragonal to cubic when the doping amount of cobalt element increases. Their electric conductivities increase with the cobalt content and are enough high for them used as cathodes of IT-SOFCs. A fuel cell with (Mn, Co)(3)O-4 spinel cathode was successfully evaluated based on YSZ electrolyte. (Mn, Co)(3)O-4 spinel cathodes show good electrochemical activities, demonstrating the feasibility of the spinel oxide being a cathode of IT-SOFC. As copper doped into (Mn, Co)(3)O-4 spinel, the P-peak for Cu0.5MnC1.5O4 cathode rise to 343, 474 and 506 mW cm(-2) at 700, 750 and 800 degrees C, respectively. The results reveal that the spinel-type oxides are promising cathodes for IT-SOFCs, especially for Cu0.5MnCo1.5O4. Copyright (C) 2012, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.