Proton conducting solid oxide fuel cells with layered PrBa0.5Sr0.5Co2O5+δ perovskite cathode

BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.2O3−δ (BZCY7) exhibits adequate protonic conductivity as well as sufficient chemical and thermal stability over a wide range of SOFC operating conditions, while layered perovskite PrBa0.5Sr0.5Co2O5+δ (PBSC) has advanced electrochemical properties. This research fully takes advantage of these advanced properties and develops a novel protonic ceramic membrane fuel cell (PCMFC) of Ni–BZCY7|BZCY7|PBSC. Experimental results show that the cell may achieve the open-circuit potential of 1.005 V, the maximal power density of 520 mW cm−2, and a low electrode polarization resistance of 0.12 Ωcm2 at 700 °C. Increasing operating temperature leads to the decrease of total cell resistance, among which electrolyte resistance becomes increasingly dominant over polarization resistance. The results also indicate that PBSC perovskite cathode is a good candidate for intermediate temperature PCMFC development, while the developed Ni–BZCY7|BZCY7|PBSC cell is a promising functional material system for SOFCs.