Activating the cathode for solid oxide fuel cells by selective removal of surface strontium

IF 9.5 2区材料科学 Q1 CHEMISTRY, PHYSICAL

Journal of Materials Chemistry A Pub Date : 2025-10-06 DOI:10.1039/d5ta05022g

Peiyao Feng, Haoqing Lin, Guangxing Huang, Qirui Ye, Feifei Dong, Shasha Luo, Wei Wang, Yu Chen, Bote Zhao

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Abstract

Sr segregation in perovskite cathodes depletes active sites for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and accelerates performance degradation in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). La_0.6Sr_0.4Co_0.2Fe_0.8O_3−δ (LSCF), a representative cathode material for intermediate-temperature SOFCs, suffers from surface Sr segregation, leading to electrochemical deterioration. Here, we present a surface engineering strategy based on alkaline treatment to selectively remove Sr-rich surface species while preserving the bulk perovskite structure. Structural and electrochemical analyses using LSCF as a model cathode reveal that this treatment exposes catalytically active B-site (Co/Fe) cations and eliminates Sr-derived surface species, thereby optimizing ORR kinetics. The treated LSCF cathode exhibits a 27–40% reduction in area-specific resistance (ASR_p) over the temperature range of 700–550 °C and maintains stable performance during 150 h of operation. A single fuel cell with the modified cathode achieves a peak power density of 1.07 W cm⁻² at 650 °C, a 23% improvement over pristine LSCF. This approach is applicable to the commercial LSCF cathode and offers a promising route for developing high-performance cathode materials for intermediate-temperature SOFCs.

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通过选择性去除表面锶来激活固体氧化物燃料电池的阴极

钙钛矿阴极中的锶偏析耗尽了氧还原反应（ORR）的活性位点，加速了固体氧化物燃料电池（sofc）的性能下降。La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3−δ (LSCF)是中温sofc的代表性正极材料，其表面Sr偏析导致电化学劣化。在这里，我们提出了一种基于碱性处理的表面工程策略，以选择性地去除富sr表面物质，同时保留大块钙钛矿结构。使用LSCF作为模型阴极的结构和电化学分析表明，这种处理暴露了催化活性b位（Co/Fe）阳离子，消除了sr衍生的表面物质，从而优化了ORR动力学。在700-550°C的温度范围内，处理后的LSCF阴极的面积比电阻（ASRp）降低了27-40%，并在150小时的工作时间内保持稳定的性能。在650°C时，使用改性阴极的单个燃料电池的峰值功率密度为1.07 W cm - 2，比原始LSCF提高了23%。该方法适用于商用LSCF阴极，为中温sofc高性能阴极材料的开发提供了一条有前景的途径。

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来源期刊

Journal of Materials Chemistry A CHEMISTRY, PHYSICAL-ENERGY & FUELS

CiteScore

19.50

自引率

5.00%

发文量

1892

审稿时长

1.5 months

期刊介绍： The Journal of Materials Chemistry A, B & C covers a wide range of high-quality studies in the field of materials chemistry, with each section focusing on specific applications of the materials studied. Journal of Materials Chemistry A emphasizes applications in energy and sustainability, including topics such as artificial photosynthesis, batteries, and fuel cells. Journal of Materials Chemistry B focuses on applications in biology and medicine, while Journal of Materials Chemistry C covers applications in optical, magnetic, and electronic devices. Example topic areas within the scope of Journal of Materials Chemistry A include catalysis, green/sustainable materials, sensors, and water treatment, among others.