One-Dimensional CuCo₂O₄-Er_0.4Bi_1.6O₃ Composite Fiber as Cathode of Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

The reduced operating temperature is requisite for the wide application of the solid oxide fuel cells owing to the lower cost and longer lifetime. Nevertheless, in the intermediate temperature range, the significantly increased polarization loss appears in the solid oxide fuel cells, reducing the final performance. In order to solve this issue, here we report the one-dimensional CuCo₂O₄-Er_0.4Bi_1.6O₃ composite fibers, which are synthesized via electrospun method and utilized as cathodes of intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells. The optimal Er_0.4Bi_1.6O₃ mass ratio of 35 wt % has been ascertained, possessing the lowest cathode polarization resistance of 0.021 ω cm² at 800 °C, which is 3.3 times lower than those of the CuCo₂O₄-Er_0.4Bi_1.6O₃ nanoparticle-structured composite cathode. All of the results demonstrate the potential of the CuCo₂O₄-Er_0.4Bi_1.6O₃ composite nanofiber serving as an efficient cathode for the intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells.