Structural and electrochemical study of Ba0.15Cu0.15Ni0.10Zn0.60 oxide anode for low temperature solid oxide fuel cell

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds Vol. 780; pp. 653 - 659
• Main Authors: Batool, Rida, Gill, Rohama, Altaf, Faizah, Ahmad, M. Ashfaq, Raza, Rizwan, Khan, M. Ajmal, Hussain, Fida, Rehman, Zohaib ur, Abbas, Ghazanfar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 05.04.2019; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Anodes; Automobile industry; Electrode materials; Energy conversion efficiency; Hydrogen fuels; Low temperature; LTSOFC; Morphology; Nano-structured; Operating temperature; Porous materials; Scanning electron microscopy; Sol-gel processes; Solid oxide fuel cells; Structural analysis; Zn based electrodes; Zn based electrodes; Nano-structured; Porous materials; LTSOFC
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2018.11.392

Fuel cell technology is conquering much attraction in advanced energy conversion technologies due to the highest efficiency and environment friendly features. However, the high working temperature of solid oxide fuel cell is a major obstacle to launch this technology as marketable. In this context, Ba0.15Cu0.15Ni0.10Zn0.60 oxide material has been reported as anode material and prepared via sol-gel technique. The structural analysis and surface morphology are studied through X-Ray Diffractometry (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), respectively. The average particle size was calculated to be 231 nm. The asymmetrical three layers cell was fabricated for testing of fuel cell performance. The prepared cell was tested between 450 and 650 °C of temperature range with hydrogen fuel. The highest conductivity and power density were achieved to be 10.4 Scm−1 and 350 mWcm−2, respectively. The activation energy was found to be 0.12 eV. The prepared material showed fairly reliable power density at lower operating temperature that make it good candidate for LT-SOFC anode. [Display omitted] •New Zn based electrode was synthesized via sol-gel route.•BCNZ oxide powder has been used as anode for LTSOFC.•The maximum power density of 350 mW/cm 2 was achieved at 600 °C.•These new electrodes are cost effective for traditional solid oxide fuel cells.