Quantum-mechanics-based design principles for solid oxide fuel cell cathode materials

Low oxide ion conductivity in perovskite-type transition metal oxides is one of the major problems with solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Here, simple quantum mechanical analyses of LaMO3 (M = Cr, Mn, Fe, Co) materials provide new insights into what drives the relative ease of formation of oxygen vacancies, which is a prerequisite for and predictor of oxide ion bulk diffusion. From our results, we derive design principles based on easily measurable or computable properties to improve SOFC cathode materials.