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

Author

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

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Rasool, Shahzad & Sarfraz, & Raza, Rizwan & Shah, M.A.K. Yousaf & Akbar, Nabeela & Khalid, Muhammad & Wan, Shuo & Jing, Yifu & Lu, Yuzheng & Zhu, Bin, 2025. "Unusual structural and electrical properties of CeO2-Al2O3 heterostructure electrolytes for fuel cells," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 252(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:252:y:2025:i:c:s0960148125012042
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.123542
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Shah, M.A.K. Yousaf & Lu, Yuzheng & Mushtaq, Naveed & Rauf, Sajid & Yousaf, Muhammad & Asghar, Muhammad Imran & Lund, Peter D. & Zhu, Bin, 2022. "Demonstrating the potential of iron-doped strontium titanate electrolyte with high-performance for low temperature ceramic fuel cells," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 196(C), pages 901-911.
    2. You Zhou & Xiaofei Guan & Hua Zhou & Koushik Ramadoss & Suhare Adam & Huajun Liu & Sungsik Lee & Jian Shi & Masaru Tsuchiya & Dillon D. Fong & Shriram Ramanathan, 2016. "Strongly correlated perovskite fuel cells," Nature, Nature, vol. 534(7606), pages 231-234, June.
    3. Hanping Ding & Wei Wu & Chao Jiang & Yong Ding & Wenjuan Bian & Boxun Hu & Prabhakar Singh & Christopher J. Orme & Lucun Wang & Yunya Zhang & Dong Ding, 2020. "Self-sustainable protonic ceramic electrochemical cells using a triple conducting electrode for hydrogen and power production," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-11, December.
    4. Sihyuk Choi & Chris J. Kucharczyk & Yangang Liang & Xiaohang Zhang & Ichiro Takeuchi & Ho-Il Ji & Sossina M. Haile, 2018. "Exceptional power density and stability at intermediate temperatures in protonic ceramic fuel cells," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 3(3), pages 202-210, March.
    5. Li, Junjiao & Xu, Qiyan & Dou, Annan & Shah, M.A.K. Yousaf & Rauf, Sajid & Mushtaq, Naveed & Khalid, Muhammad & Akbar, Nabeela & Yousaf, Muhammad & Lu, Yuzheng, 2025. "Advanced composite electrolyte membranes for enhanced ionic conduction in ceramic fuel cells," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    6. Lu, Yuzheng & Shah, M.A.K. Yousaf & Mushtaq, Naveed & Rauf, Sajid & Yousaf, Muhammad & Akbar, Nabeela & Arshad, Naila & Irshad, Muhammad Sultan, 2024. "A niobium and tantalum co-doped perovskite electrolyte with high ionic conduction for low-temperature Ceramics Fuel cell," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 236(C).
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