Investigating the Electrochemical Properties of a Semiconductor Heterostructure Composite Based on WO<sub>3</sub>-CaFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> Particles Planted on Porous Ni-Foam for Fuel Cell Applications
There is tremendous potential for both small- and large-scale applications of low-temperature operational ceramic fuel cells (LT-CFCs), which operate between 350 °C and 550 °C. Unfortunately, the low operating temperature of CFCs was hampered by inadequate oxygen reduction electrocatalysts. In this...
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| author | Junjiao Li Fei Qiu Muneerah Alomar Areej S. Alqarni Naveed Mushtaq M. A. K. Yousaf Shah Fenghua Qi Senlin Yan Yuzheng Lu |
| author_facet | Junjiao Li Fei Qiu Muneerah Alomar Areej S. Alqarni Naveed Mushtaq M. A. K. Yousaf Shah Fenghua Qi Senlin Yan Yuzheng Lu |
| author_sort | Junjiao Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | There is tremendous potential for both small- and large-scale applications of low-temperature operational ceramic fuel cells (LT-CFCs), which operate between 350 °C and 550 °C. Unfortunately, the low operating temperature of CFCs was hampered by inadequate oxygen reduction electrocatalysts. In this work, the electrochemical characteristics of a semiconductor heterostructure composite based on WO<sub>3</sub>-CaFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> deposited over porous Ni-foam are investigated. At low working temperatures of 450–500 °C, the developed WO<sub>3</sub>-CaFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> pasted on porous Ni–foam heterostructure composite cathode exhibits very low area-specific resistance (0.78 Ω cm<sup>2</sup>) and high oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity. For button-sized SOFCs with H<sub>2</sub> and atmospheric air fuels, we have demonstrated high-power densities of 508 mW cm<sup>−2</sup> running at 550 °C, and even potential operation at 450 °C, using WO<sub>3</sub>-CaFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> seeded on porous Ni-foam cathode. Moreover, WO<sub>3</sub>-CaFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> composite heterostructure with Ni foam paste exhibits very low activation energy compared to both WO<sub>3</sub> and CaFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> alone, which supports ORR activity. To comprehend the enhanced ORR electrocatalytic activity of WO<sub>3</sub>-CaFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> pasted on porous Ni-foam heterostructure composite, several spectroscopic tests including X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used. The findings may also aid in the creation of useful cobalt-free electrocatalysts for LT-SOFCs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:43:00Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4352 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:43:00Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Crystals |
| spelling | doaj.art-a8f9e9c3233242d4b8dd8910a15982a82023-11-17T10:28:52ZengMDPI AGCrystals2073-43522023-03-0113344410.3390/cryst13030444Investigating the Electrochemical Properties of a Semiconductor Heterostructure Composite Based on WO<sub>3</sub>-CaFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> Particles Planted on Porous Ni-Foam for Fuel Cell ApplicationsJunjiao Li0Fei Qiu1Muneerah Alomar2Areej S. Alqarni3Naveed Mushtaq4M. A. K. Yousaf Shah5Fenghua Qi6Senlin Yan7Yuzheng Lu8Department of Electronic and Engineering, Nanjing Vocational Institute of Mechatronic Technology, Nanjing 211135, ChinaSchool of Electronic and Engineering, Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, Nanjing 211171, ChinaDepartment of Physics, College of Sciences, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Physics, College of Sciences, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi ArabiaJiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Solar Energy Science and Technology/Energy Storage Joint Research Centre, School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, No. 2 Si Pai Lou, Nanjing 210096, ChinaJiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Solar Energy Science and Technology/Energy Storage Joint Research Centre, School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, No. 2 Si Pai Lou, Nanjing 210096, ChinaSchool of Electronic and Engineering, Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, Nanjing 211171, ChinaSchool of Electronic and Engineering, Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, Nanjing 211171, ChinaSchool of Electronic and Engineering, Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, Nanjing 211171, ChinaThere is tremendous potential for both small- and large-scale applications of low-temperature operational ceramic fuel cells (LT-CFCs), which operate between 350 °C and 550 °C. Unfortunately, the low operating temperature of CFCs was hampered by inadequate oxygen reduction electrocatalysts. In this work, the electrochemical characteristics of a semiconductor heterostructure composite based on WO<sub>3</sub>-CaFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> deposited over porous Ni-foam are investigated. At low working temperatures of 450–500 °C, the developed WO<sub>3</sub>-CaFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> pasted on porous Ni–foam heterostructure composite cathode exhibits very low area-specific resistance (0.78 Ω cm<sup>2</sup>) and high oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity. For button-sized SOFCs with H<sub>2</sub> and atmospheric air fuels, we have demonstrated high-power densities of 508 mW cm<sup>−2</sup> running at 550 °C, and even potential operation at 450 °C, using WO<sub>3</sub>-CaFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> seeded on porous Ni-foam cathode. Moreover, WO<sub>3</sub>-CaFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> composite heterostructure with Ni foam paste exhibits very low activation energy compared to both WO<sub>3</sub> and CaFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> alone, which supports ORR activity. To comprehend the enhanced ORR electrocatalytic activity of WO<sub>3</sub>-CaFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> pasted on porous Ni-foam heterostructure composite, several spectroscopic tests including X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used. The findings may also aid in the creation of useful cobalt-free electrocatalysts for LT-SOFCs.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/3/444WO<sub>3</sub>-CaFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>: porous Ni-foamelectrochemical propertiesspectroscopic studiesLT-SOFCs cathode |
| spellingShingle | Junjiao Li Fei Qiu Muneerah Alomar Areej S. Alqarni Naveed Mushtaq M. A. K. Yousaf Shah Fenghua Qi Senlin Yan Yuzheng Lu Investigating the Electrochemical Properties of a Semiconductor Heterostructure Composite Based on WO<sub>3</sub>-CaFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> Particles Planted on Porous Ni-Foam for Fuel Cell Applications Crystals WO<sub>3</sub>-CaFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>: porous Ni-foam electrochemical properties spectroscopic studies LT-SOFCs cathode |
| title | Investigating the Electrochemical Properties of a Semiconductor Heterostructure Composite Based on WO<sub>3</sub>-CaFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> Particles Planted on Porous Ni-Foam for Fuel Cell Applications |
| title_full | Investigating the Electrochemical Properties of a Semiconductor Heterostructure Composite Based on WO<sub>3</sub>-CaFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> Particles Planted on Porous Ni-Foam for Fuel Cell Applications |
| title_fullStr | Investigating the Electrochemical Properties of a Semiconductor Heterostructure Composite Based on WO<sub>3</sub>-CaFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> Particles Planted on Porous Ni-Foam for Fuel Cell Applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigating the Electrochemical Properties of a Semiconductor Heterostructure Composite Based on WO<sub>3</sub>-CaFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> Particles Planted on Porous Ni-Foam for Fuel Cell Applications |
| title_short | Investigating the Electrochemical Properties of a Semiconductor Heterostructure Composite Based on WO<sub>3</sub>-CaFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> Particles Planted on Porous Ni-Foam for Fuel Cell Applications |
| title_sort | investigating the electrochemical properties of a semiconductor heterostructure composite based on wo sub 3 sub cafe sub 2 sub o sub 4 sub particles planted on porous ni foam for fuel cell applications |
| topic | WO<sub>3</sub>-CaFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>: porous Ni-foam electrochemical properties spectroscopic studies LT-SOFCs cathode |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/3/444 |
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