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

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 900^oC in CO₂-CO 70-30 mixture, a comparable level to a high performance Ni-YSZ cathode operated in the identical conditions.