Electrochemical performance of Co3O4/CeO2 electrodes in H2S/H2O atmospheres in a proton-conducting ceramic symmetrical cell with BaZr0.7Ce0.2Y0.1O3 solid electrolyte

Abstract

The electrochemical performance of Co3O4/CeO2 mixed oxide materials as electrodes, when exposed to H2S/H2O atmospheres, was examined employing a proton conducting symmetrical cell, with BaZr0.7Ce0.2Y0.1O3 (BZCY72) as the solid electrolyte. The impact of temperature (700–850 °C) and H2S concentration (0–1 v/v%) in steam-rich atmospheres (90 v/v% H2O) on the overall cell performance was thoroughly assessed by means of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) studies. The performance of the Co3O4/CeO2 electrode was significantly enhanced by increasing the H2S concentration and temperature. The obtained results were interpreted on the basis of EIS results and physicochemical characterization (XRD, SEM) studies of fresh and used electrodes. Notably, it was found that the mass transport processes, mainly associated with the adsorption and diffusion of the intermediate species resulting by the chemical and half-cell reactions taking place during cell operation, dominate the electrode polarization resistance compared with the charge transfer processes. Upon increasing temperature and H2S concentration, the electrode resistance is substantially lowered, due to the in situ activation and morphological modifications of the electrode, induced by its interaction with the reactants (H2S/H2O) and products (H2/SO2) mixtures.