Enhanced electrolysis performance through hierarchical nanoparticle formation in the BaCo0.4Fe0.4Zr0.1Y0.1O3-δ cathode materials system

This study demonstrated that the activity of a triple conducting BaCo0.4Fe0.4Zr0.1Y0.1O3-δ (BCFZY0.1) air cathode was improved by in situ formation BCFZY0.1 nanoparticles (NPs). The NPs, directly formed from the reaction of BCFZY0.1 with H2O and CO2 from air under electrolysis measurements conditions, were uniformly distributed in a porous BCFZY0.1 framework. At 600 °C, the current density increased and reached a plateau of 1.12 A/cm2 with the hierarchical BCFZY0.1 cathode under electrolysis conditions within 400 h operation. Distribution of Relaxation Time (DRT) measurements found that the polarization resistance decreased over time as NPs were formed. SEM and TEM results confirm the nanoparticle formation, and the chemical and structural features were assigned to a BCFZY0.1 phase.