Nanostructural engineering of porous perovskite cathodes for high-performance protonic ceramic fuel-cells using piezoelectric inkjet-printing

초록

We report the fabrication of high-performance PrBa0.5Sr0.5Co1.5Fe0.5O5+delta (PBSCF) cathodes with optimized nanostructures achieved through the nano-engineering precision of piezoelectric inkjet printing (P-IJP) for protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs). Compared to thermal inkjet printing (T-IJP), P-IJP produces smaller, more uniform droplets with stable printing performance, enabling precise control of both the cathode microstructure and the robust electrode-electrolyte interface. This structural tuning, characterized by uniformly distributed pores, is essential for creating active sites for electrochemical reactions in PCFCs. In our study, the precisely controlled cathode microstructure increases reactive sites for oxygen reduction reactions, enhancing charge transfer efficiency, while defect-free bonding across layers improves interfacial contact, as evidenced by significantly reduced polarization and ohmic resistance. These advancements culminated in a peak power density of 550 mW cm- 2 at 500 degrees C, representing a substantial performance improvement over alternative processes, including T-IJP. Our findings highlight the potential of P-IJP to revolutionize PCFC fabrication and provide a versatile alternative to traditional manufacturing techniques for ceramic fuel cells and other energy-related materials.

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