High-performance cathode-supported SOFCs prepared by a single-step co-firing process

Cathode-supported solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), comprising porous Pr0.35Nd0.35Sr0.3MnO3−δ (PNSM)/Sm0.2Ce0.8O1.95 (SDC) cathode supports, SDC function layers, YSZ electrolyte membranes and NiO/SDC anode layers, were successfully fabricated via suspensions coating and single-step co-firing process. The microstructures of electrolyte membranes were observed with scanning electron microscope (SEM). The assembled single cell was electrochemically characterized with humidified hydrogen as fuel and ambient air as oxidant. The open circuit voltage (OCV) of the cell was 1.036 V at 650 °C, and the peak power densities were 657, 472, 290 and 166 mW cm−2 at 800, 750, 700 and 650 °C, respectively. Impedance analysis indicated that the performance of cathode-supported cell was determined essentially by electrode polarization resistance, which suggested that optimizing electrodes was especially important for improving the cell performance.