Development of novel air electrode materials for the SOFC and SOEC technologies

One of major goals in the development of solid oxide fuel cells and its reversible mode, solid oxide electrolyzer cells, is related to a decrease of the operating temperature, down to the intermediate range (600-800 °C) or even lower temperatures. However, this reduction causes an increase of the polarization resistance, especially for the air electrode, which results in a significant decline of the efficiency of the device. Therefore, it is essential to obtain new, thermally and chemically stable materials with the high ionic-electronic conductivity and good catalytic activity for the oxygen reduction reaction working in the decreased temperature range. At the same time, environmental and economic aspects have to be considered in the development of the new compounds. Promising cobalt-free electrode materials can be Cu-based oxides with the perovskite and perovskite-related structures.