Enhanced Performance of Protonic Solid Oxide Steam Electrolysis Cell of Zr-Rich Side BaZr 0.6 Ce 0.2 Y 0.2 O 3-δ Electrolyte with an Anode Functional Layer.

Proton-conducting solid oxide electrolysis cells (H-SOEC) containing a 15-μm-thick BaZr 0.6 Ce 0.2 Y 0.2 O 3-δ (BZCY622) electrolyte thin film, porous cathode cermet support, and La 0.6 Sr 0.4 Co 0.2 Fe 0.8 O 3-δ anodes were fabricated using a reactive cofiring process at approximately 1400 °C. Steam electrolysis was conducted by supplying wet air to the anode at a water partial pressure of 20 kPa. The performance was evaluated using electrochemical measurements and gas chromatography. At 600 °C, the cells generated an electrolysis current of 0.47 A cm -2 at a 1.3 V bias while the Faradaic efficiency reached 56% using 400 mA cm -2 . The electrolysis performance was efficiently improved by introducing a 40-nm-thick La 0.5 Sr 0.5 CoO 3-δ (LSC) nanolayer as an anode functional layer (AFL). The cells with LSC AFL produced an electrolysis current of 0.87 A cm -2 at a 1.3 V bias at 600 °C, and the Faradaic efficiency reached 65% under 400 mA cm -2 . Impedance analysis showed that the introduction of the AFL decreased the ohmic resistances and improved interfacial proton transfer across the anode/electrolyte interface and polarization resistances related to the anode reaction. These results demonstrate opportunities for future research on AFL to improve the performance of H-SOECs with Zr-rich BaZr x Ce 1- x - y Y y O 3-δ electrolytes.