Modification of the LSCM-GDC cathode to enhance performance for high temperature CO2 electrolysis via solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs)

Xiangling Yue, John Irvine*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Extensive efforts have been made to find new fuel electrode materials for solid oxide cells with high activity and durability to provide more robust materials than the state-of-the-art material, the Ni-cermet . In the present study, a Ni-free cathode is presented with competitive performance and higher durability than a well-behaved Ni-YSZ cermet for CO2 electrolysis via SOEC. A (La, Sr)(Cr, Mn)O3/(Gd, Ce)O2 (LSCM/GDC) cathode fabricated by vacuum infiltration of GDC nitrate solutions into a LSCM/YSZ (8 mol% yttria stabilised zirconia) skeleton is reported. A porous YSZ layer introduced between the dense electrolyte and this cathode helps to maintain a good cathode/electrolyte interface, whilst the nano-structured GDC phase introduced on the surface of LSCM/YSZ backbone is advantageous to boost the cathode electrochemical and catalytic properties towards CO2 reduction by SOEC. Vacuum impregnation therefore offers an effective means to modify the microstructure of LSCM/GDC material set used as cathode for high temperature CO2 electrolysis. With the doping of Pd co-catalyst after GDC impregnation, the cathode activity of the GDC impregnated LSCM material is further enhanced for high temperature CO2 electrolysis, and the 0.5wt% Pd and GDC co-impregnated LSCM cathode achieves an Rp value of 0.24 Ω cm2 at OCV at 900oC in CO2-CO 70-30 mixture, a comparable level to a high performance Ni-YSZ cathode operated in the identical conditions.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)7081-7090
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry A
Volume5
Issue number15
Early online date13 Mar 2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 21 Apr 2017

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