Performance of Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3-δ-Ag Composite Cathode Materials for IT-SOFCs

°Abstract. In order to develop new cathodes for reduced temperature SOFCs, Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3-δ-Ag composite cathode was investigated in intermediate-temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (IT-SOFCs). The XRD results suggested that no chemical reactions between BSCF and Ag in the composite cathode were found. The resistance measurements showed that the addition of Ag into BSCF improved electrical conductivity of pure BSCF, and the improved conductivity resulted in attractive cathode performance. In addition, electrochemical impedance spectra exhibited the better performance of BSCF-Ag composite cathodes than pure BSCF, e.g., the polarization resistance value of BSCF-Ag was only 0.36Ω cm2 at 650°C, which was nearly 80% lower than that of BSCF electrode. Polarization curves showed the overpotential decreased with the addition of Ag. The current density value of BSCF-Ag was 0.88Acm-2 under –120mV, about five times of that BSCF measured at 650°C. As a summary, compared to a pure BSCF cathode, it was found that adding Ag in the cathode enhanced the BSCF performance significantly.