Abstract:

Developing high-performance cathode materials is of great significance to promote the development of intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs). In this paper, the spinel-type NiMn₂O₄ (NMO) electron-ion mixed conductor material was prepared by the sol-gel method, and it was systematically studied as the cathode of IT-SOFCs. It is found that NMO material has stable cubic phase structure by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the conductivity of oxygen ions is studied by the technique of electrical conductivity relaxation (ECR). It shows that NMO has excellent oxygen-ion conductivity, which provides guarantee for its electrochemical performance. Impedance spectroscopy measurements of a symmetrical cell shows a low interface impedance, which is only 0.27 Ω·cm^-2 at 800℃. At the same time, an anode-supported SOFC with NMO cathode presents a maximum power density of 864.9 mW·cm^-2 at 800℃. The above results demonstrate that NiMn₂O₄ is a potential cathode material for IT-SOFCs.

Key words: electrochemistry, fuel cells, catalysis, cathode, oxygen reduction, spinel

摘要：

高性能阴极材料的开发对推动中温固体氧化物燃料电池（intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells, IT-SOFCs）的发展具有重要意义。本文采用溶胶-凝胶法制备了尖晶石型NiMn₂O₄（NMO）电子-离子混合导体材料，并作为IT-SOFCs阴极进行了系统的研究，通过X射线衍射表征确定NMO材料呈稳定的立方相结构，并采用电导弛豫方法对其氧离子传导能力进行了研究。发现NMO具有优秀的氧离子传导能力，为其电化学性能提供了保障。对称电池的电化学阻抗谱测试结果表明，800℃时NMO阴极材料的界面电阻值为0.27 Ω·cm^-2，同时作为阳极支撑型SOFC的阴极材料进行放电时的最大功率密度可以达到864.9 mW·cm^-2。上述结果表明，NiMn₂O₄是一种极具潜力的IT-SOFCs阴极材料。

关键词: 电化学, 燃料电池, 催化, 阴极材料, 氧还原, 尖晶石