Silicon-doped BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.1Yb0.1O3-δ electrolyte with high mechanical strength and electrical performance for protonic ceramic cells

doi:10.1016/j.jmst.2025.03.104

Abstract

Abstract: Protonic ceramic cells (PCCs) are recognized as a promising energy conversion technology for green hydrogen and electricity production owing to their high efficiency, all-solid-state structure, and exceptional reversibility. However, the inadequate mechanical strength of proton-conducting electrolytes remains a critical challenge hindering the widespread application of PCCs. In this study, a cation regulation strategy is employed to enhance the electrolyte mechanical strength by doping silicon (Si) at the B-site of the conventional proton-conducting material BaZr_0.1Ce_0.7Y_0.1Yb_0.1O_3-δ (BZCYYb). The optimized Ba(Zr_0.1Ce_0.7Y_0.1Yb_0.1)_0.99Si_0.01O_3-δ (BZCYYbSi) demonstrates significantly improved grain boundary conductivity, structural stability, and mechanical strength, achieving a hardness of 3.11 GPa—1.5 times greater than that of pristine BZCYYb (1.14 GPa). The PCC incorporating a thin-film BZCYYbSi electrolyte exhibits a peak power density of 1.179 W cm^-2 at 600 °C in fuel cell mode and an electrolysis current density of 1.591 A cm^-2 at 1.3 V/600 °C, outperforming the BZCYYb-based counterpart (0.994 W cm^-2 and 1.244 A cm^-2). Additionally, the BZCYYbSi-based PCC maintains a stable operation for over 370 h at 550 °C in a continuous discharge and electrolysis situation. This work provides new insights for the design and fabrication of mechanically strengthened and high-performance electrolytes for low-temperature PCCs.

Key words: Perovskite oxide, Protonic ceramic cell, Electrolyte, Mechanical strength, Proton conductivity

Peng Chen, Zeping Chen, Daxiang Xue, Dongliang Liu, Wenhuai Li, Wanqing Chen, Qiang Niu, Meigui Xu, Wei Wang, Chuan Zhou, Wei Zhou. Silicon-doped BaZr_0.1Ce_0.7Y_0.1Yb_0.1O_3-δ electrolyte with high mechanical strength and electrical performance for protonic ceramic cells[J]. J. Mater. Sci. Technol., 2026, 243: 275-282.

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Silicon-doped BaZr_0.1Ce_0.7Y_0.1Yb_0.1O_3-δ electrolyte with high mechanical strength and electrical performance for protonic ceramic cells

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