Electrochemical enhancement of GDC(Gd2O3-doped CeO2)/SSC (SmxSr1-xCoO3) composite cathodes in solid oxide fuel cells prepared through the sonochemical synthesis of nanocrystalline GDC electrolytes

High-frequency sonication at 20 kHz was employed to coat micro-scale SmxSr1-xCoO3 (SSC) particles with nano-scale Gd2O3-doped CeO2 (GDC) electrolyte materials. The composition-controlled GDC/SSC composite cathodes were evaluated simultaneously using scanning electron microscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The microstructurally optimized SSC/GDC cathode composites exhibited minimal electrode polarization compared to the pristine mixed ionic electronic conducting SSC materials. The artificially designed micro/nano-composite cathode materials can be employed in intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.