Performance evaluation of intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell with La_0.75Sr_0.25CuO_2.5-δ cathode

The strontium doped lanthanum cuprate with tetragonal perovskite structure has been considered a potential cathode material for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs). This study presents work on the performance evaluation of using La_0.75Sr_0.25CuO_2.5-δ (LSCu) as cathode material for IT-SOFC carried out by the Ni-YSZ anode supported single cell. The cell consists of a 600-μm-thick porous Ni/YSZ anode as cell support, a yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) thin film layer (ca. 8 μm) as electrolyte, and a porous LSCu layer as cathode (ca. 40 μm). For the performance testing, the maximum power density at 800°C was 0.65 W/cm ² with 150 and 500 seem of hydrogen and air flow, respectively. However, the area-specific resistances (ASRs) of the cell were 0.32, 0.75, and 1.21 ω cm² at 800, 750, and 700°C, respectively. For further improvement, the ASR will be decreased by LSCu compositional modification and microstructure optimization of the LSCu cathode layer.