Sulphate-Ceria Composite Ceramics for Energy Environmental Co-Generation Technology

In this work ion conductivity and FC application were studied for the new type composite material based on SDC (samarium doped ceria) and Li2SO4. Significant conductivity enhancement was achieved, e.g. 10-2 – 0.4 Scm-1 for the SDC-Li2SO4 compared to 10-4 -10-2 Scm-1 for the SDC between 400 and 650°C. Some ion conductivity mechanisms were proposed correspondingly. Using the SDC-Li2SO4 composite materials as the electrolytes, we achieved high performances, 200-540 mWcm-2, for intermediate temperature (450-650°C) solid oxide FC (ITSOFC) applications. Sulfates, typically Li2SO4, have an excellent chemical stability in sulfur containing atmosphere. The sulfate-ceria (SDC-Li2SO4) composite materials can thus meet the demands to develop the sulfur tolerant and H2S FC technologies, which was also demonstrated successfully with significant importance for both fundamental and applied research.