Electrochemical performance of a solid oxide fuel cell based on Ce0.8Sm0.2O2−δ electrolyte synthesized by a polymer assisted combustion method

A polyvinyl alcohol assisted combustion synthesis method was used to prepare Ce0.8Sm0.2O2−δ (SDC) powders for an intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell (IT-SOFC). The XRD results showed that this combustion synthesis route could yield phase-pure SDC powders at a relatively low calcination temperature. A thin SDC electrolyte film with thickness control was produced by a dry pressing method at a lower sintering temperature of 1250 °C. With Sm0.5Sr0.5Co3-SDC as the composite cathode, a single cell based on this thin SDC electrolyte was tested from 550 to 650 °C. The maximum power density of 936 mW cm−2 was achieved at 650 °C using humidified hydrogen as the fuel and stationary air as the oxidant.