Ultrafast oxygen exchange kinetics on highly epitaxial PrBaCo2O5+δ thin films

Abstract

Symmetric half cell structures of highly epitaxial PrBaCo2O5+δ (PBCO)/Gd0.8Ce0.2.2O2:Y0.08Zr0.92O2/PrBaCo2O5+δ thin films were designed and fabricated on (001) LaAlO3. Microstructural studies indicate that the multilayer films have excellent single-crystal quality and epitaxial nature. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements reveal that the PBCO film electrodes have a polarization resistance as low as 0.109 Ω cm2 at 597 °C in air and an ultrafast surface exchange coefficient (0.006 cm/s at 598 °C) with low activation energy (0.77 eV). The low polarization resistance and rapid surface oxygen exchange kinetics suggest that the PBCO can be an excellent cathode material for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells.