A Self-Assembled Multiphasic Thin Film as an Oxygen Electrode for Enhanced Durability in Reversible Solid Oxide Cells

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Nanocomposite materials offer a path to reduce critical raw materials in solid oxide cells.
• Thin-film electrodes face challenges in performance and stability under operating conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel nanocomposite thin-film electrode for reversible solid oxide cells.
• To assess the electrochemical performance and long-term stability of the proposed electrode architecture.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a multiphase nanocomposite using self-assembly of lanthanum strontium cobaltite and samarium-doped ceria thin films.
• Electrochemical characterization in both fuel cell (oxygen reduction) and electrolysis (oxygen evolution) modes.
• Long-term stability testing at 700 °C on commercial anode-supported cells.

Main Results:

• The nanocomposite electrode exhibited superior oxygen reduction and evolution activity compared to bulk electrodes.
• High electrical output was achieved with thin active layers (200 nm), reducing critical raw materials by over 95%.
• The cell demonstrated excellent stability, operating for over 300 hours in fuel cell mode.

Conclusions:

• Thin-film nanocomposite self-assembly provides a viable route to high-performance, durable electrodes for solid oxide cells.
• This approach significantly minimizes the use of critical raw materials, enhancing sustainability.
• The disordered nanostructure is key to achieving enhanced electrochemical performance and stability.