Effect of a reducing agent for silver on the electrochemical activity of an Ag/Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Co_0.8Fe_0.2O_3-δ electrode prepared by electroless deposition technique

Silver-modified Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Co_0.8Fe_0.2O_3-δ (Ag/BSCF) electrodes were prepared using an electroless deposition technique. The morphology, microstructure and oxygen reduction reaction activity of the resulted Ag/BSCF electrodes were comparatively studied using Fourier transform infrared spectra, environmental scanning electron microscopy, temperature-programmed oxygen desorption, X-ray diffraction, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. An area-specific resistance as low as 0.038 Ω cm² was achieved for N₂H₄-reduced Ag/BSCF cathode at 600 °C. Carbonates were detected over the BSCF surface during the reduction of silver, which deteriorated both the charge-transfer process and diffusion process of HCHO-reduced Ag/BSCF cathode for the oxygen electrochemical reduction reaction. An anode-supported single cell with an N₂H₄-reduced Ag/BSCF cathode showed a peak power of 826 mW cm^-2 at 600 °C. In comparison, only 672 mW cm^-2 was observed with the HCHO-reduced Ag/BSCF cathode.