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Abstract:
Developing cathode materials with high performance in oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is desirable for proton ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs) for energy conversion technology. BaCo0.4Fe0.4Zr0.1Y0.1O3–δ (BCFZY) is widely investigated as a cathode. Herein, BCFZY cathode is used as a paradigmatic example to study the impact of calcination temperature on microstructure, electronic structure, and ORR performance. Ion beam-scanning electron microscopy indicates BCFZY prepared at 800 °C (BCFZY800) exhibits the largest specific surface area and cathode/electrolyte contact area. BCFZY800 exhibits a peak power density of 1.32 W cm−2 at 650 °C, which is 37 and 193 higher than that of BCFZY prepared at 700 °C (BCFZY700) and 1100 °C (BCFZY1100), respectively. Furthermore, BCFZY800 demonstrates high long-term stability over 500 h. Soft X-Ray absorption spectra indicate that the oxidation state of BCFZY800 is reduced, suggesting more catalytically active sites than those of BCFZY700 and BCFZY1100 after the ORR. This work provides a new understanding for enhanced PCFCs performance by proper porosity structure via fine-tuning the calcination temperature. © 2024 The Authors. Small Structures published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.
