Proton conduction in perovskite solid electrolyte for proton ceramic fuel cell application at intermediate temperatures: a short review

Abstract

Proton-conducting ceramics based on perovskite-type oxides have been significantly applied in a wide range of electrochemical devices such as fuel cells, hydrogen sensors, and steam electrolysers. One of the emerging applications of these ceramic proton conductors is as an electrolyte component in a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), where the proton is mobilized from the anode to the cathode side via these conductors. The proton (hydrogen ion) diffusion mechanisms and activation energies (Ea ) in these materials are heavily influenced by their composition, stoichiometry, and crystal structure. Hence, this review presents and discusses the mechanism of hydrogen ion movement for proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cells or known as proton ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs), based on experimental and modelling data, including the vehicular and the Grotthuss mechanisms. This review will provide a brief understanding of the connection between experimental and modelling evidence for proton mechanisms in perovskite electrolyte materials.