LnMO cathode materials for solid oxide fuel cells

One of the major challenges to develop "intermediate temperature" solid oxide fuel cells is finding a novel cathode material, which can meet the following requirements: (1) high electronic conductivity; (2) chemical compatibility with the electrolyte; (3) a matched thermal expansion coefficient (TEC); (4) stability in a wide range of oxygen partial pressure; and (5) high catalytic activity for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). In this short review, a survey of these requirements for K2NiF4-type material with the formula Ln2MO4, Ln = La, Pr, Nd, Sm; M = Ni, Cu, Fe, Co, Mn, is presented. The composition-dependent TEC, electrical conductivity and oxygen transport property are considered. The Ln2MO4 materials exhibit improved chemical stability and compatibility with most of the traditional electrolytes. The complete fuel cells integrated with Ln2MO4 materials as cathodes show promising results. Furthermore, these materials are considered as cathodes of protonic ceramic fuel cell (PCFC), and/or anodes of high temperature steam electrolysis (HTSE). First results show excellent performances. The versatility of these Ln2MO4 materials is explained on the basis of structural features and the ability to accommodate oxygen non-stoichiometry.