Insight of potentials for perovskite cathode materials for solid oxide fuel cell and semiconductor membrane fuel cells

Abstract

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and semiconductor membrane fuel cells (SMFCs) are two of the most promising new technologies with good potential for efficient and clean power generation. The performance of both devices strongly depends on the performance of the cathode materials. This review identifies the similarities and differences between SOFCs and SMFCs, with particular emphasis on the structural innovations of SMFCs, in which the cathode and electrolyte functionalities are integrated into a single layer. Perovskite oxides, as a class, have shown great promise as cathode materials because of their unique of combination of ionic and electronic conductivity, considerable activity in the oxygen reduction reaction, and suitability for operation at low and intermediate temperatures. Our study focuses on the most promising perovskite cathodes, namely Sr0.7Ce0.3MnO3 and La0.6Sr0.4Fe0.8Cu0.2O3, while discussing their shared properties, such as enhanced ionic and electronic conductivity and stability under operating conditions. These materials have shown good performances in both SOFCs and SMFCs, supporting the latter's ability to operate at lower temperatures (300–550 °C) with fewer complex manufacturing processes than traditional SOFCs. This review will also explore the scientific mechanisms, characterization techniques, and challenges of perovskite cathodes, providing insights into the role they might play in advancing both SOFC and SMFC technologies. By integrating recent progress, our aim is to clarify the pathways toward the commercialization of these promising, high impact fuel cell technologies.