Electrochemical properties of A-site deficient Sr0.9Y0.08Ti0.95Ni0.05O3-δ as an active fuel electrode for solid oxide cells

A-site deficient Sr0.9Y0.08Ti0.95Ni0.05O3-δ (SYTN) is synthesized and applied as a highly active fuel electrode for reversible solid oxide cells (RSOCs). The as-prepared SYTN shows an n-type conduction mechanism and a high electrical conductivity of 19.7 S cm−1. Based on the density functional theory calculations, it is found that a stronger hybridization of Ni-d and O-p orbit. The exsolved nanoparticles with the perovskite supporter show high catalytic activity. The SYTN anode presents a low Rp of 0.36 Ω cm2 at 800 °C in 5% H2/N2. A single cell with SYTN anode and a 170 μm thick Sc2O3 stabilized-ZrO2 electrolyte layer exhibits maximum power densities of 873 and 412 mW cm−2 at 800 °C using humidified H2 and CH4 as fuels respectively.