Unusual structural and electrical properties of CeO2-Al2O3 heterostructure electrolytes for fuel cells

Shahzad Rasool, Sarfraz,, Rizwan Raza, M.A.K. Yousaf Shah, Nabeela Akbar, Muhammad Khalid, Shuo Wan, Yifu Jing, Yuzheng Lu and Bin Zhu

Renewable Energy, 2025, vol. 252, issue C

Abstract: Tunning semiconductors to function as a fast ionic conductor is an innovative approach to advancing the field for low-temperature ceramic fuel cells (FCs). A significant challenge for a chemist is to design an electrolyte with conductivity exceeding 0.1 S/cm at 300–600oC. In this study, we investigate the unusual structural and electrical properties of CeO2-Al2O3 heterostructure composites as potential electrolytes for FCs. We propose a semiconductor-insulator (type-1) heterostructure approach to develop composite electrolytes for low-temperature (LT) FCs, where a built-in electric field (BIEF) at interface accelerates ions transport. Constructed CeO2-Al2O3 heterostructure electrolyte exhibits ionic conductivity reaching 0.21 S/cm, with its FC performance achieving maximum power density (MPD) of 1192 mW/cm2 at 520 °C. The type-I band alignment-based heterostructure with BIEF significantly enhances the electrochemical properties by promoting efficient charge separation and ionic conductivity while suppressing electronic conduction. The heterostructure exhibited superior electrical properties compared to individual CeO2 and Al2O3 components, making it a promising capable candidate for FC applications.

Keywords: CeO2-Al2O3 heterostructure; High ionic conductivity; Type-1 heterojunction; Oxygen vacancies; Electrochemical proton injection (EPI) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:252:y:2025:i:c:s0960148125012042

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.123542

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