Stability considerations of semiconductor ionic fuel cells from a LNCA (LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2-δ) and Sm-doped ceria (SDC; Ce0.8Sm0.2O2-δ) composite electrolyte

Recent advances in composite materials, especially semiconductor materials incorporating ionic conductor materials, have led to significant improvements in the performance of low-temperature fuel cells. In this paper, we present a semiconductor LNCA (LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2-delta) which is often used as electrode material and ionic Sm-doped ceria (SDC; Ce0.8Sm0.2O2-delta) composite electrolyte, sandwiched between LNCA thin-layer electrodes in a configuration of Ni-LNCA/SDC-LNCA/LNCA-Ni. The incorporation of the semiconductor LNCA into the SDC electrolyte with optimized weight ratios resulted in a significant power improvement, from 345 mW cm(-2) with a pure SDC electrolyte to 995 mW cm(-2) with the ionic-semiconductor SDC-LNCA one where the corresponding ionic conductivity reaches 0.255 S cm(-1) at 550 degrees C. Interestingly, the coexistence of ionic and electron conduction in the SDC-LNCA membrane displayed not any electronic short-circuiting but enhanced the device power outputs. This study demonstrates a new fuel cell working principle and simplifies technologies of applying functional ionic-semiconductor membranes and symmetrical electrodes to replace conventional electrolyte and electrochemical technologies for a new generation of fuel cells, different from the conventional complex anode, electrolyte, and cathode configuration. (c) 2020 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Recent advances in composite materials, especially semiconductor materials incorporating ionic conductor materials, have significantly improved the performance of low-temperature fuel cells. The combination of semiconductor LNCA and ionic Sm-doped ceria composite electrolyte has shown a remarkable power improvement, demonstrating a new fuel cell working principle and simplifying technologies for a new generation of fuel cells.