Electrospinning of Pr₂CuO₄ Fiber and its Cathode Application in Solid Oxide Fuel Cell

Abstract

In this study, Pr₂CuO₄ was fabricated as a cathode material for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs) application. The Pr₂CuO₄ cathode was prepared using a solid-state reaction and an electrospinning technique. The prepared cathode material was characterized by the suitable characterization technique. The Pr₂CuO₄ was coated on a Sm_0.2Ce_0.8O_1.9 (SDC20) pellet with a doctor blades to form a half-cell (Ag/Pr₂CuO₄/SDC20/Ag). The Pr₂CuO₄ cathode prepared using electrospinning method demonstrated an excellent cathode performance in electrochemical measurements. The fiber morphologies of the cathode induced large amounts of triple phase boundaries, which promoted oxygen diffusion on the surface. The lowest area-specific resistance obtained with the Pr₂CuO₄ fiber was determined to be 0.35 Ω cm² at 800°C in air. The electrospinning prepared Pr₂CuO₄ fiber is a potential cathode material for IT-SOFCs.