Enhanced performance of nanocrystalline Cu-doped Pr0.6Sr0.4FeO3 as cathode for solid oxide fuel cell

Pr0.6Sr0.4FeO3 (PSF) and Pr0.6Sr0.4Fe0.8Cu0.2O3 (PSFCu) perovskite materials were prepared by glycine nitrate method as a cathode material for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFC). The prepared PSF and PSFCu materials exhibited typical orthorhombic structure and highly porous morphology with high surface area (43–55 m2/g). Upon the 20% Cu doping on the B-site of the PSF, the electrical conductivity increased from 247 S cm−1 (PSF cathode) to 298 S cm−1 and polarization resistance of symmetry cell decreased from 0.21 Ω cm2 (PSF cathode) to 0.14 Ω cm2 as compared to PSF cathode (0.21 Ω cm2) at 850 °C. Cu doping in B-site of the perovskite generates the oxide ion vacancies which lead the high effective charge carriers, resulting in the enhanced electrochemical performance of PSFCu cathode.