Ceramic fuel cells using novel proton-conducting BaCe0.5Zr0.3Y0.1Yb0.05Zn0.05O3-δ electrolyte

Protonic ceramic fuel cells have become extremely interesting due to their high power output at the intermediate temperature range (400–700 °C). Significant progress has been made to develop electrolyte materials, doped barium cerates-zirconate, which gets the leading role due to its high chemical stability and high ionic conductivity. Here, we present a new composition BaCe0.5Zr0.3Y0.1Yb0.05Zn0.05O3-δ (BCZYYbZn05), where addition of 5 mol% Zn with Ce, Zr, Y, and Yb at the B-site of the perovskite material shows high stability with high conductivity. The material was synthesized by solid-state reaction route at 1400 °C which showed 98% relative density. Rietveld analysis of neutron powder diffraction data reveal an orthorhombic structure with Pbnm space group. Thermogravimetric analysis shows about 1.06% weight loss from 200 to 1000 °C which is mainly related to the formation of the oxygen vacancies. In wet hydrogen atmosphere, this material shows higher conductivity and lower activation energy than dry hydrogen atmosphere indicates the conduction type as protonic conduction. The anode-supported single test cell based on this electrolyte material demonstrates peak power densities 649 mW cm−2 at 700 °C using conventional BSCF cathode, representing an important step toward commercially viable SOFC technology.