A new cobalt-free proton-blocking composite cathode La2NiO4+δ–LaNi0.6Fe0.4O3−δ for BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.2O3−δ-based solid oxide fuel cells

Series of proton-blocking La 2 NiO 4+ δ (LNO)–LaNi 0.6 Fe 0.4 O 3− δ (LNF) (1:0, 7:3, 5:5, 3:7, 0:1 wt.%) composites were evaluated as cathodes for BaZr 0.1 Ce 0.7 Y 0.2 O 3− δ (BZCY)-based proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cell (H-SOFC). The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results show a good chemical compatibility for each composition below 1100 °C. Electrochemical studies reveal that LNO–LNF73 shows the lowest area specific polarization resistance in symmetrical cells and the best electrochemical performance in single cell tests with the highest maximum power density (MPD) and the lowest interfacial polarization resistance ( R p ). These results corroborate the electrical conductivity analysis. The single cell with LNO–LNF73 as cathode outputs the MPD of 590 mW cm −2 and the R p of 0.091 Ω cm 2 at 700 °C. This work confirms that LNO–LNF73 composite material could be a promising cathode for H-SOFC.