Sm_0.5Sr_0.5CoO₃–Sm_0.2Ce_0.8O_1.9 Composite Oxygen Electrodes for Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells

Abstract

Abstract In this paper, a series of Sm 0.5 Sr 0.5 CoO 3 –Sm 0.2 Ce 0.8 O 1.9 (SSC–SDC) composite with different ratios were prepared and characterized as oxygen electrodes for solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs). Yttria‐stabilized zirconia (YSZ) was selected as the electrolyte with a SDC barrier layer to avoid detrimental solid state interaction between SSC and YSZ. At 850 °C, the impedance spectra showed that the optimum SDC content in the composite electrode was found to be about 30 wt.%, which showed a much lower area specific resistance of 0.03 Ω cm 2 . The electrochemical performances of a Ni–YSZ hydrogen electrode supported YSZ membrane SOEC with the SSC–SDC73 oxygen electrode were also measured at 750–850 °C. The hydrogen production rate calculated from the Faraday's law was 327 mL cm –2 h –1 at 850 °C at an electrolysis voltage of 1.3 V with a steam concentration of ∼40%, which indicated that the SSC–SDC73 was a promising oxygen electrode candidate for high temperature electrolysis cells.