Toward Stabilizing Co3O4 Nanoparticles as an Oxygen Reduction Reaction Catalyst for Intermediate-Temperature SOFCs. Issue 10 (1st January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ren, Yaoyu; Cheng, Yuan; Gorte, Raymond J.; Huang, Kevin
• Is Part Of: Journal of the Electrochemical Society. Volume 164:Issue 10(2017)
• Page Start: F3001
• Page End: F3007
• Publication Date: 2017-01-01
• Subjects: coarsening -- cobalt oxide -- oxygen electrocatalysis -- sintering resistance -- solid oxide fuel cell; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; 541.3705
• DOI: 10.1149/2.0011710jes
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4651

Abstract

Abstract : The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity of a series of composite cathodes consisting of a porous Gd0.20 Ce0.80 O2-δ (GDC) scaffold infiltrated with Sr-, Co-, and Y-nitrate solutions has been systematically investigated in this study. The results show that such infiltrated cathodes if calcined at low temperatures such as 350°C exhibit low polarization resistance (RP ) in the temperature range of 450–700°C, even though XRD analysis reveals that the calcined product is virtually a mixture of Co3 O4 and SrCO3 . A further study by design-of-experiment suggests that the true ORR-active species is Co3 O4, whereas SrCO3 serves as a sintering inhibitor to preserve the high surface area of Co3 O4 . The findings and understanding in this study present a new strategy for future development of active cathodes for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs).