Proton conducting solid oxide fuel cells with layered PrBa_0.5Sr_0.5Co₂O_5+δ perovskite cathode

BaZr_0.1Ce_0.7Y_0.2O_3-δ (BZCY7) exhibits adequate protonic conductivity as well as sufficient chemical and thermal stability over a wide range of SOFC operating conditions, while layered perovskite PrBa_0.5Sr_0.5Co₂O_5+δ (PBSC) has advanced electrochemical properties. This research fully takes advantage of these advanced properties and develops a novel protonic ceramic membrane fuel cell (PCMFC) of Ni-BZCY7|BZCY7|PBSC. Experimental results show that the cell may achieve the open-circuit potential of 1.005 V, the maximal power density of 520 mW cm^-2, and a low electrode polarization resistance of 0.12 Ωcm² at 700 °C. Increasing operating temperature leads to the decrease of total cell resistance, among which electrolyte resistance becomes increasingly dominant over polarization resistance. The results also indicate that PBSC perovskite cathode is a good candidate for intermediate temperature PCMFC development, while the developed Ni-BZCY7|BZCY7|PBSC cell is a promising functional material system for SOFCs.