Cathode materials for solid oxide fuel cells towards operating at intermediate-to-low temperature range

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are a type of electrochemical energy conversion devices with high efficiencies and low emissions. The practical application of SOFCs technology would have a great environmental benignity and be beneficial for a sustainable development of the world. The decrease of operation temperature can accelerate the commercialization of SOFCs technology, the key is the development of high performance of cathodes operated at low temperature. In this paper, we mainly have a comprehensive introduction on the progress in developing of novel cathodes for reduced temperature SOFCs, including perovskite-type Ba_0.5Sr_0.3Co _0.8Fe_0.2O_3-8, double perovskite-type LnBaCo₂O₅₊₈, other perovskite-type cobalt-based mixed conducting electrodes, non-cobaltrelated mixed conducting oxide electrodes, precious metal modified oxide electrodes and nano-structured composite electrodes prepared by infiltration, and specific cathodes for proton-conducting SOFCs. More attentions are paid to the development in our lab within the last five years. The development trend of cathode in SOFCs is proposed.