Study of High-Performance Solid Oxide Electrolytic Cell Based on BaZr0.8Y0.2−xSmxO3−δ Proton Conductor Electrolyte
摘要
To address the low conductivity of yttrium-doped BaZrO3 (BZY) proton-conducting electrolytes, this study synthesized Sm-doped BaZr0.8Y0.2−xSmxO3−δ (x = 0–0.15) via sol–gel, systematically investigating the effects of Sm doping on the structural, morphological, and electrochemical properties. Key findings reveal that optimal Sm doping (x = 0.05) produces homogeneous grains (relative density: 97.39%), reduces lattice parameters (4.208 Å), and enhances conductivity to 12.4 × 1 0−3 S cm−1 at 650°C, which is 63% higher than that of undoped BZY (7.6 × 10−3 S cm−1). The anode-supported SOEC based on BaZr0.8Y0.2−xSmxO3−δ (x = 0.05) prepared by the co-pressing method shows good performance at low temperatures: the electrolytic current reaches up to 0.31 A cm−2 at 650°C and a voltage of 1.5 V (34.8% higher than undoped cells), and a hydrogen production rate of 129.58 mL cm−2 h−1. This work demonstrates that controlled Sm doping in BZY significantly boosts ionic transport and SOEC efficiency at 650°C, providing a viable strategy for next-generation proton-conducting electrochemical devices.