A composite cathode with undoped LaFeO3 for protonic ceramic fuel cells

A composite cathode for protonic ceramic fuel cells was developed using undoped, electronically conductive LaFeO3 (LF) and proton conductive Ba(Ce0.51Zr0.3Y0.15Zn0.04)O-3-8 (BCZY). A comparison of the cathodic performance of Sr-doped LaFeO3 (LSF), a material with both electronic and oxygen-ion conductivity, with that of the undoped LF revealed the effect of oxygen-ion conductivity on the cathodic performance in protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs). The cathodic performances of the LF/BCZY and LSF/BCZY composites were similar; this implied that the oxygen-ion conductivity had a minimal contribution toward the cathodic performance in PCFCs, unlike the case with oxygen-ion conducting fuel cells. Based on these results, an alternative electrochemical reaction mechanism was proposed for producing water at the cathode using protons and oxygen. (C) 2016 Hydrogen Energy Publications. LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.