Towards high-performance tubular-type protonic ceramic electrolysis cells with all-Ni-based functional electrodes

Abstract

Protonic ceramic electrolysis cells (PCECs), which permit high-temperature electrolysis of water, exhibit various advantages over conventional solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs), including cost-effectiveness and the potential to operate at low-/intermediate-temperature ranges with high performance and efficiency. Although many efforts have been made in recent years to improve the electrochemical characteristics of PCECs, certain challenges involved in scaling them up remain unresolved. In the present work, we present a twin approach of combining the tape-calendering method with all-Ni-based functional electrodes with the aim of fabricating a tubular-designed PCEC having an enlarged electrode area (4.6 cm2). This cell, based on a 25 µm-thick BaCe0.5Zr0.3Dy0.2O3–δ proton-conducting electrolyte, a nickel-based cermet and a Pr1.95Ba0.05NiO4+δ oxygen electrode, demonstrates a high hydrogen production rate (19 mL min–1 at 600 °C), which surpasses the majority of results reported for traditional button- or planar-type PCECs. These findings increase the scope for scaling up solid oxide electrochemical cells and maintaining their operability at reducing temperatures. © 2019 Science Press and Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences