The Praseodymium Oxide/Strontium Oxide-based Proton Conductor as an Electrolyte for Solid Oxide Electrolyzer Cell

Abstract

Clean energy is becoming more necessary nowadays because conventional energy re- sources used for energy production are generating toxic gases, which cause environ- mental pollution and increase global warming. Renewable energy sources are prefera- ble in order to prevent these ecological issues. Therefore, hydrogen-based energy is a very emerging area nowadays. Hydrogen can be extracted from several sources, but high-temperature-based electrolyzer have gained prominence due to their low cost and terrific efficiency. In this project, composite proton conductor based solid oxide elec- trolyzer Cell (SOEC) of Praseodymium PrxBa1-xMnO (X=0.1,0.2,0.3) and Strontium SrxBa1-xMnO (X=0.1,0.2,0.3) developed by solid state reaction (SSR) technique. Elec- trochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is used to examine their polarization losses, ohmic losses, and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) mechanism in the temperature range of (550-650) oC. The FTIR study showed that the material has no nitrogen bond- ing peak and that all nitrates evaporated during the sintering process. Weak O-H bonds indicate water in the material and produce H+ during ORR. In Raman spectroscopy the red shift in peaks has been observed. UV-Visible analysis found that Sr0.1Ba0.9MnO and Pr0.1Ba0.9MnO possess the maximum and Sr0.3Ba0.7MnO and Pr0.3Ba0.7MnO have the minimum band gaps of 1.5 eV and 1.7 eV respectively. The conductivity of Pr0.3Ba0.7MnO and Sr0.3Ba0.7MnO show maximum behaviors and having the values 10.1 mScm-1 and 9.2 mScm-1, respectively at 650 oC. As a result of their enhanced electrical conductivity and current density performance, the electrolyte materials produced for SOEC applications are promising contenders.