Perovskite Chromite With In-Situ Assembled Ni-Co Nano-Alloys: A Potential Bifunctional Electrode Catalyst for Solid Oxide Cells

Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is an advanced electricity generation device with attractive fuel flexibility and conversion efficiency. As its reversed process, solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) can efficiently electrolyze notorious CO2 to valuable chemical product such as CO, by utilizing renewable energy. To achieve long-term operation, the development of catalytically active electrode materials in both SOFC/SOEC modes is highly desirable, yet still challenging. In this research, an A-site deficient perovskite oxide (lanthanum chromite) decorated with in-situ exsolved Ni-Co nano-alloy has been fabricated and applied as a potential fuel electrode for both SOFC/SOEC. The influences of A-site non-stoichiometry and B-site dopant concentration on structural properties and in-situ exsolution process have been elaborately studied from various aspects. Diverse characterizations collectively confirm that the existence of A-site deficiency helps the formation of oxygen vacancies and stimulates the exsolution of B-site cations. In addition, the synergistic effect between the dopants of Co and Ni manipulates the reducibility and promotes carbon deposition resistance of the material. The electrolyte-supported SOFC with self-assembled Ni-Co nano-alloy electrode has shown maximum power densities of 329 mW/cm2 (in H2) and 258 mW/cm2 (in syngas, H2 + CO) at 850 °C, which are 50% better than those of the fuel cell with the exsolved Ni nanoparticles only. Also, the nano-alloy decorated electrode catalyst promotes a 30% increase in SOEC performance for CO2 electrolysis with prominently enhanced resistance against carbon deposition, suggesting the versatile functionality of the materials.