Electrical conductivity optimization in electrolyte-free fuel cells by single-component Ce0.8Sm0.2O2-δ–Li0.15Ni0.45Zn0.4 layer

Single-component electrolyte-free fuel cells possess a similar function to the traditional fuel cells with a complex three-component structure. However, how to enhance their electrical properties for practical industrial applications remains a timely and important issue. Here, we report the manipulation of concentration ratios of ionic to electronic conductors in an electrolyte-free Ce0.8Sm0.2O2-δ–Li0.15Ni0.45Zn0.4 by adjusting the relative weight between its two inside compositions. Our systematic investigations reveal that the fuel cell with 30% in weight of Li0.15Ni0.45Zn0.4 exhibits an almost uniform distribution of the two compositions and has a total conductivity as high as 10 × 10−2 S cm−1 at 600 °C. Such an enhancement is found to be attributed to the established balance between the numbers of its inside ionic and electronic conductors. These findings are relevant for the technological improvement of this new species of electrolyte-free fuel cell and represent an important step toward commercialization of this single-component fuel cell.

[1]  Rizwan Raza,et al.  An Electrolyte‐Free Fuel Cell Constructed from One Homogenous Layer with Mixed Conductivity , 2011 .

[2]  B. Zhu,et al.  Novel hybrid conductors based on doped ceria and BCY20 for ITSOFC applications , 2004 .

[3]  Allen J. Bard,et al.  Electrochemical Methods: Fundamentals and Applications , 1980 .

[4]  Lizhai Yang,et al.  SDC-Carbonate Composite Electrolytes for Low-Temperature SOFCs , 2005 .

[5]  John B. Goodenough,et al.  Ceramic technology: Oxide-ion conductors by design , 2000, Nature.

[6]  N. Sammes,et al.  Physical, chemical and electrochemical properties of pure and doped ceria , 2000 .

[7]  G. Lindbergh,et al.  Conductivity of SDC and (Li/Na)2CO3 composite electrolytes in reducing and oxidising atmospheres , 2007 .

[8]  Wilson K. S. Chiu,et al.  Analytical investigations of varying cross section microstructures on charge transfer in solid oxide , 2011 .

[9]  Brian C. H. Steele,et al.  Appraisal of Ce1−yGdyO2−y/2 electrolytes for IT-SOFC operation at 500°C , 2000 .

[10]  D. Perednis,et al.  Fabrication of thin electrolytes for second-generation solid oxide fuel cells , 2000 .

[11]  Zhixiang Liu,et al.  Development of novel low-temperature SOFCs with co-ionic conducting SDC-carbonate composite electrolytes , 2007 .

[12]  Venkataraman Thangadurai,et al.  Recent progress in solid oxide and lithium ion conducting electrolytes research , 2006 .

[13]  Bin Zhu,et al.  Innovative low temperature SOFCs and advanced materials , 2003 .

[14]  Liangdong Fan,et al.  Single-component and three-component fuel cells , 2011 .

[15]  Zongping Shao,et al.  A high-performance cathode for the next generation of solid-oxide fuel cells , 2004, Nature.

[16]  Raymond J. Gorte,et al.  Direct oxidation of hydrocarbons in a solid-oxide fuel cell , 2000, Nature.

[17]  Liangdong Fan,et al.  A fuel cell with a single component functioning simultaneously as the electrodes and electrolyte , 2011 .

[18]  B. Steele,et al.  Materials for fuel-cell technologies , 2001, Nature.

[19]  Jon M. Hiller,et al.  Three-dimensional reconstruction of a solid-oxide fuel-cell anode , 2006, Nature materials.

[20]  Peter Lund,et al.  A single-component fuel cell reactor , 2011 .

[21]  S. A. Barnett,et al.  A direct-methane fuel cell with a ceria-based anode , 1999, Nature.

[22]  B. Zhu,et al.  Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) using industrial grade mixed rare-earth oxide electrolytes , 2008 .

[23]  Hideaki Inaba,et al.  Ceria-based solid electrolytes , 1996 .

[24]  Bin Zhu,et al.  Next generation fuel cell R&D , 2006 .

[25]  Bin Zhu,et al.  Functional ceria–salt-composite materials for advanced ITSOFC applications , 2003 .

[26]  Sossina M. Haile,et al.  Solid acids as fuel cell electrolytes , 2001, Nature.

[27]  Andrew Murray,et al.  Cell cycle: A snip separates sisters , 1999, Nature.