Unveiling dual functional catalytic performance of Pr1.5La0.5Ni0.8Cu0.2O4+δ air electrode for solid oxide cells

As a promising energy conversion device, solid oxide cell can realize efficient conversion between chemical energy and electrical energy under solid oxide fuel cell and solid oxide electrolysis cell mode. In this work, a Ruddlesden-Popper type oxide Pr1.5La0.5Ni0.8Cu0.2O4+δ (PLNC) with good mixed ionic-electronic conductivity is investigated as a dual functional air electrode for SOC. The results confirm that the peak power densities of the LSGM electrolyte supported cell with PLNC-GDC composite air electrode can reach 1.127, 0.911, 0.675 and 0.446 W cm−2 at 800, 750, 700 and 650 °C, respectively. Meanwhile, the cell possesses excellent durability for nearly 200 h under a constant current density of 400 mA cm−2 at 700 °C. The cell also shows superior electrolysis current density of 1.54 A cm−2 under electrolysis voltage of 1.3 V at 800 °C. The study demonstrates that PLNC is a promising dual functional air electrode material with excellent oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction activity for oxygen electrocatalytic reaction.