Citation: Yixuan Huang, Jiacheng Zeng, Wenjie Gong, Wanbin Lin, Hao Liu, Chuqian Jian, Xiaofeng Chen, Tang Sheng, Li Zhang, Fan He, Yu Chen. An efficient and stable protonic ceramic fuel cell cathode achieved by Yb-doping[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(9): 111664. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111664 shu

An efficient and stable protonic ceramic fuel cell cathode achieved by Yb-doping

School of Environment and Energy, State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment and Pollution Control, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China

eschenyu@scut.edu.cn

Received Date: 19 June 2025
Revised Date: 30 July 2025
Accepted Date: 31 July 2025
Available Online: 5 August 2025

Figures(4)

With high fuel flexibility, high energy efficiency, and low carbon emissions, protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs) have been recognized as a promising energy conversion device. However, the sluggish oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) kinetics occurring at the cathodes significantly hinder the further development of PCFCs. Herein, a Yb-doped cathode material based on PrBaCo₂O₅₊_δ (PBC) perovskite with a nominal composition of PrBaCo_1.95Yb_0.05O₅₊_δ (PBCYb_0.05) is reported. The PBCYb_0.05 is made up of two phases, which are deficient-PrBa_1-xCo_1.95_–_0.99xYb_0.05_–_0.1xO₅₊_δ (D-PBCYb_0.05) major phase and BaCo_0.99Yb_0.01O_3-_δ (BCYO) secondary phase, demonstrating a low area-specific resistance of 0.249 Ω cm² and commendable electrocatalytic stability at 600 ℃. In comparison to PBC, the PBCYb_0.05 exhibits accelerated oxygen transport kinetics and higher oxygen vacancy concentration, confirmed by the analyses of electrical conductivity relaxation and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. When implemented as the air electrode in PCFCs, PBCYb_0.05 delivers an outstanding peak power density (PPD) of 2.25 W/cm² at 700 ℃, representing a high enhancement over undoped PBC cells.
- Cathode,
- Protonic ceramic fuel cells,
- Oxygen reduction reaction,
- Ytterbium doping,
- Stability
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