Enhancing Electrochemical Efficiency of Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells for Carbon Dioxide Reduction Through Nickel-Doped Titanate-Based Cathode with Doped Ceria Electrolyte

Solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) is a potential technology for converting the principal greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide (CO2), into carbon monoxide (CO) by employing renewable energy. SOECs have great potential, including high-energy efficiency, fast electrode kinetics, and competitive cost; however, this technology still has challenges in developing highly active, robust CO2 cathode electrocatalysts. In this work, we report the Ni-doped lanthanum strontium calcium titanate (La0.20Sr0.25Ca0.45Ni0.05Ti0.95O3-delta) cathode for application as the cathode of CO2 electrolysis with gadolinia-doped ceria (Gd0.1Ce0.9O1.95) electrolyte in SOEC. The exsolution of Ni nanoparticles is achieved by a simple in situ growth method at 800 degrees C. The Ni doping in LSCT significantly improved the electrochemical activity of the catalyst by increasing oxygen vacancies, and the Ni metallic nanoparticles can afford much more active sites for CO2 reduction. The CO2 electrolysis mechanism is studied by the distribution of relaxation time analysis of impedance spectroscopy. Ni-LSCT renders a higher activity for electrolysis of CO2 with an exceptionally high reduction current density of 3.89 A cm(-2) at 2.5 V potential applied and 800 degrees C temperature with GDC (Gd0.1Ce0.9O1.95) electrolyte. Ni doping is a crucial factor in controlling the electrochemical performance and catalytic activity in SOEC and GDC electrolytes, which is further helped by the high ionic conductivity.