Work

Dual-functional La2NiO4 impregnation for enhancement of catalytic activity and microstructure in SOEC fuel electrodes

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Achieving high efficiency and long-term durability in solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) requires innovative electrode engineering. In this study, we report a simple and scalable impregnation strategy to enhance the performance and stability of SOECs by modifying the conventional Ni-YSZ fuel electrode with La 2 NiO 4 . Under operating conditions, La 2 NiO 4 undergoes in-situ decomposition, forming a nanocomposite of Ni nanoparticles embedded within La(OH) 3 substrate. This unique structure provides abundant catalytic sites for H 2 O dissociation and suppresses Ni coarsening, thereby ensuring stable electrochemical performance. The impregnated electrode delivered a high current density of −1.36 A cm −2 at 1.3 V and 750 °C, while exhibiting significantly enhanced stability with a low degradation rate of only 0.25 mV h −1 over 200 h, significantly outperforming the unmodified electrode counterpart. Electrochemical and microstructural analyses further confirmed reduced polarization resistance and excellent microstructural robustness. These findings highlight the promise of this impregnation approach for developing high-performance, durable SOEC electrodes, advancing sustainable hydrogen production technologies.

Source: Sustainable materials and technologies

DOI: 10.1016/j.susmat.2025.e01759

Authors: Lu Zhou, Cheng Li, Liyuan Fan, Dilshod Nematov, Lichao Jia

Institutions: State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Queen's University Belfast, S. U. Umarov Physical-Technical Institute

Language: English

Topic: Advancements in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Subfield: Materials Chemistry

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,150