New approach to enhance Sr-free cathode performance by high-entropy multi-component transition metal coupling

Abstract High-entropy perovskite cathode materials with the coupling of five or more different component transition metal species can provide great flexibility in modulating the electronic properties and catalytic activities for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Herein, as-prepared Sr-free high-entropy perovskite oxide LaMnO3-δ (LMO) is homogeneously incorporated five transition metal species Mn, Fe, Co, Ni and Cu (LaMn0.2Fe0.2Co0.2Ni0.2Cu0.2O3-δ, HE-LMO) in B-site of perovskite, presenting enhanced electrochemical performance. The cell performance of anode supported SOFCs with HE-LMO cathode is almost one point five times (550.89 mW cm−2 at 800 °C) of those with LMO cathode. Accordingly, the electrode polarization resistances of HE-LMO cathode are reduced from 0.532 Ω cm2 to 0.212 Ω cm2 at 800 °C and from 4.051 Ω cm2 to 1.538 Ωcm2 at 650 °C, respectively. All the results demonstrate that it would be a feasible way to design high-performance cathode materials with multi-component transition metal coupling at reduced temperature.