Pd and GDC Co-infiltrated LSCM cathode for high-temperature CO2 electrolysis using solid oxide electrolysis cells

Abstract

The electrochemical reduction of CO2 using a highly efficient solid oxide electrolyzer could be considered an alternative to the advanced utilization of CO2. The La(Sr)Cr(Mn)O3 (LSCM) perovskite oxide has previously been examined as a promising ceramic cathode material for application in a CO2 solid oxide electrolyzer at high temperatures. However, LSCM suffers from low electrocatalytic activity towards CO2 reduction. In this study, a modified LSCM-based cathode material is fabricated by co-infiltrating Pd metal and Ce0.8Gd0.2O1.9 (GDC) nanoparticles on the surface of the LSCM scaffold. Structural characterization and electrochemical analysis of the high-temperature CO2 electrolysis procedure are conducted for various CO/CO2 mixtures and at different operating temperatures. The enhanced electrocatalytic activity of the Pd-GDC co-infiltrated LSCM cathode compared to LSCM is attributed to the increased numbers of active triple phase boundaries and surface oxygen vacancies resulting from the co-infiltration of Pd-GDC nanoparticles on the LSCM cathode.