Wide band gap conducting oxides electrolyte materials for intermediate temperature SOFCs

Abstract

The research was mainly aimed at comparing the commonly used oxide semiconductor, ZnO, ZnGa2O4 and CoGa2O4, as an electrolyte material suitable for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs). Understanding the ionic conductivity performance of oxide semiconductors was evaluated by Cole-Cole plots in the temperature range of 25 and 700 degrees C. In addition, relaxation times, ionic activation energies, and conductivity values were calculated from Cole-Cole curves. Among the oxide semiconductors, the highest conductivity values were found for CoGa2O4 pellets within the grain size range from 30 to 100 mu m.