Graphene-based Oxygen Reduction Electrodes for Low Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Y. Jee, A. Karimaghaloo, A.MacedoAndrade, H.Moon, Y. Li, J.-W.Han, S. Ji, H. Ishihara, P.-C. Su, S.W. Cha, V. C. Tung, M.H. Lee

Abstract

In this report, we present a study of using nitrogen-doped graphene as the air electrode of low temperature solid oxide fuel cells (LT-SOFCs) operating at 350 °C or lower. Three graphene derivatives were prepared through hydrothermal reactions and their electrochemical performance and material properties were characterized in the temperature range of 225–350 °C in atmospheric air. Nitrogen-doped graphene was found to exhibit a decent air electrode performance comparable to a porous Pt electrode aged for 8 h at 350 °C, but only for a limited time. After ∼10 h of operation at 350 °C, the electrode performance degraded significantly due to carbon oxidation. However, alternative routes of synthesizing/doping graphene derivatives are expected to improve the viability of using these materials as a practical high temperature air electrode.