Perspectives on Cathodes for Protonic Ceramic Fuel Cells

Protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs) are promising electrochemical devices for the efficient and clean conversion of hydrogen and low hydrocarbons into electrical energy. Their intermediate operation temperature (500–800 C) proffers advantages in terms of greater component compatibility, unnecessity...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Mather, Glenn; Muñoz Gil, Daniel; Zamudio-García, Javier; Porras-Vázquez, José; Marrero-López, David; Pérez-Coll, Domingo
Format: Article
Publication date:2021
Country:España
Institution:Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)
Repository:Docta Complutense
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:docta.ucm.es:20.500.14352/94286
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/94286
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:546
Proton ceramic fuel cell
Cathode
Triple-conducting oxides
Protonicelectronic conductor
Composite
Química inorgánica (Química)
23 Química
Description
Summary:Protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs) are promising electrochemical devices for the efficient and clean conversion of hydrogen and low hydrocarbons into electrical energy. Their intermediate operation temperature (500–800 C) proffers advantages in terms of greater component compatibility, unnecessity of expensive noble metals for the electrocatalyst, and no dilution of the fuel electrode due to water formation. Nevertheless, the lower operating temperature, in comparison to classic solid oxide fuel cells, places significant demands on the cathode as the reaction kinetics are slower than those related to fuel oxidation in the anode or ion migration in the electrolyte. Cathode design and composition are therefore of crucial importance for the cell performance at low temperature. The different approaches that have been adopted for cathode materials research can be broadly classified into the categories of protonic–electronic conductors, oxide-ionic–electronic conductors, triple-conducting oxides, and composite electrodes composed of oxides from two of the other categories. Here, we review the relatively short history of PCFC cathode research, discussing trends, highlights, and recent progress. Current understanding of reaction mechanisms is also discussed.