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Enhanced Electrochemical Performance of Cu-Doped La₂NiO_4+δ Cathode for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

H. Chen^1,2, X. Li², X. Du², H. Xie², L. Zhao³, Y. Ling^1,2

¹ Key Laboratory of Coal-based CO₂ Capture and Geological Storage, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, P.R. China
² School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, P.R. China
³ Department of Material Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, P.R. China

received November 15, 2017, received in revised form December 21, 2017, accepted January 10, 2018

Vol. 9, No. 2, Pages 155-162   DOI: 10.4416/JCST2017-0090

Abstract

To illustrate the effect of Cu-doping in Ruddlesden-Popper-type La₂NiO_4+δ oxides, the crystal structure, interstitial oxygen formation, electrical conductivity, catalytic activity and chromium tolerance of La₂NiO_4+δ(LNO)and La₂Ni_0.9Cu_0.1O_4+δ(LNCO) are analyzed. XRD Rietveld and HT-TEM results confirm that both can be identified as Ruddlesden-Popper-type structures with tetragonal symmetry. Compared with non-doped LNO, LNCO has less interstitial oxygen, and its electrical conductivity decreases owing to the reduction of the carrier concentration. The effects on electrode performance are analyzed using symmetric cells, and interface polarization resistance at 800 °C is reduced from 2.20 Ωcm² to 0.54 Ωcm² after Cu-doping. Experimental results together with the excellent chromium tolerance confirmed by HT-XRD results demonstrate that Cu-doped LNO can work as a promising chromium-tolerant cathode.

Keywords

Ruddlesden-Popper-type oxide, interstitial oxygen, interface polarization resistance, chromium-tolerant cathode

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