Semiconductor heterostructure composite materials of Fe2O3and CeO2for low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells

There is a rapid growing interest in low-temperature operation of solid oxide fuel cells (LTSOFCs). Recent advances in composited or doped CeO(2)have resulted in high ion conductivity at low temperature below 600 degrees C. However, doped CeO(2)faced reduced electronic conduction by fuel cell operation. In this study, we report a semiconductor heterostructure of CeO2-Fe(2)O(3)for the electrolyte applications. We successfully developed high ionic conduction up to 0.18 S cm(-1)while suppressing its electronic conduction following a good fuel cell demonstration of 403 mW cm(-2)at 530 degrees C. The mechanism of ionic conduction and enhanced conductivity as well as suppression of electronic conductivity has been further investigated. Our findings demonstrate that the composite of the semiconductor heterostructure materials is a highly promising electrolyte for LTSOFCs.