Tailored Double Perovskite with Boosted Oxygen Reduction Kinetics and CO2 Durability for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

The issues related to the oxygen reduction efficiency and CO2 endurance pose challenges to achieving efficient electrochemical energy conversion in solid oxide fuel cells. Here, we develop an effective strategy using only Cu doping to boost the oxygen reduction kinetics and CO2 durability of NdBa0.5Sr0.5Co2O5+δ (NBSC). By introducing Cu ions into the Co sites of the NdBa0.5Sr0.5Co2O5+δ (NBSC) lattice, the concentration of oxygen vacancies as well as the ratio of Co3+/Co4+ can be effectively controlled. Consequently, the charge transfer and oxygen dissociation during the ORR process, as well as the average bonding energy, are significantly tuned, leading to the simultaneous enhancement of ORR catalytic activity and CO2 tolerance. Typically, NdBa0.5Sr0.5Co1.8Cu0.2O5+δ (NBSCC0.2) displays a Rp of 0.04 Ω cm2 and a PPD of 1.03 W cm–2 at 750 °C. This work provides a highly effective way to develop materials for next-generation energy conversion devices.