Bimetallic-GDC Nanowire Catalyst as a Cathode Surface Modifier for Enhancing the Oxygen Reduction Reaction and Suppressing Cation Segregation in Low-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Haval Kareem; Yonghyuk Lee; Muhammad Saqib; Dat T. Tran; Anastassia N. Alexandrova; Eric D. Wachsman; Deryn Chu; David R. Baker

doi:10.1021/acscatal.5c00756

Bimetallic-GDC Nanowire Catalyst as a Cathode Surface Modifier for Enhancing the Oxygen Reduction Reaction and Suppressing Cation Segregation in Low-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Haval Kareem
, Yonghyuk Lee
, Muhammad Saqib
, Dat T. Tran
, Anastassia N. Alexandrova
, Eric D. Wachsman
, Deryn Chu
, David R. Baker

Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Surface modification of Sm_1–xSr_xCoO_3−δ (SSC) cathodes with PtNi-GDC nanowires significantly enhances the low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (LT-SOFCs) performance. The modified SSC achieved peak power densities of 1.9 W.cm^–2 at 650 °C and 0.8 W.cm^–2 at 550 °C, with reduced ohmic (0.1 Ω.cm²) and non-ohmic (0.3 Ω.cm²) impedance at 550 °C, demonstrating increased stability over 1000 h. Following infiltration, surface Sr 3d_5/2 decreased to 58.3%, while lattice Sr 3d_5/2 increased to 41.7%, reducing the Sr surface-to-lattice ratio from 2.0 to 1.4, indicating suppressed Sr surface diffusion. This modification mitigates cation migration and enhances the efficiency of oxygen transport. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that the encapsulation of the SSC surface with PtNi₃ layers promotes spontaneous oxygen dissociation with an exothermic reaction profile, in contrast to the slightly endothermic behavior observed on pristine SSC surfaces. This enhanced oxygen activation facilitates faster oxygen reduction kinetics. This study highlights surface modification’s transformative role in advancing LT-SOFC efficiency, stability, and performance.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	12576-12589
Number of pages	14
Journal	ACS Catalysis
Volume	15
Issue number	15
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.5c00756
State	Published - 15 Aug 2025

Keywords

bimetallic nanowire
density functional theory
infiltration
low temperature SOFC
oxygen reduction reaction
surface modification
surface segregation

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10.1021/acscatal.5c00756

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Kareem, H., Lee, Y., Saqib, M., Tran, D. T., Alexandrova, A. N., Wachsman, E. D., Chu, D., & Baker, D. R. (2025). Bimetallic-GDC Nanowire Catalyst as a Cathode Surface Modifier for Enhancing the Oxygen Reduction Reaction and Suppressing Cation Segregation in Low-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells. ACS Catalysis, 15(15), 12576-12589. https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.5c00756

@article{246a006aea664ab5b71021c249821cbd,

title = "Bimetallic-GDC Nanowire Catalyst as a Cathode Surface Modifier for Enhancing the Oxygen Reduction Reaction and Suppressing Cation Segregation in Low-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells",

abstract = "Surface modification of Sm1–xSrxCoO3−δ (SSC) cathodes with PtNi-GDC nanowires significantly enhances the low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (LT-SOFCs) performance. The modified SSC achieved peak power densities of 1.9 W.cm–2 at 650 °C and 0.8 W.cm–2 at 550 °C, with reduced ohmic (0.1 Ω.cm2) and non-ohmic (0.3 Ω.cm2) impedance at 550 °C, demonstrating increased stability over 1000 h. Following infiltration, surface Sr 3d5/2 decreased to 58.3\%, while lattice Sr 3d5/2 increased to 41.7\%, reducing the Sr surface-to-lattice ratio from 2.0 to 1.4, indicating suppressed Sr surface diffusion. This modification mitigates cation migration and enhances the efficiency of oxygen transport. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that the encapsulation of the SSC surface with PtNi3 layers promotes spontaneous oxygen dissociation with an exothermic reaction profile, in contrast to the slightly endothermic behavior observed on pristine SSC surfaces. This enhanced oxygen activation facilitates faster oxygen reduction kinetics. This study highlights surface modification{\textquoteright}s transformative role in advancing LT-SOFC efficiency, stability, and performance.",

keywords = "bimetallic nanowire, density functional theory, infiltration, low temperature SOFC, oxygen reduction reaction, surface modification, surface segregation",

author = "Haval Kareem and Yonghyuk Lee and Muhammad Saqib and Tran, \{Dat T.\} and Alexandrova, \{Anastassia N.\} and Wachsman, \{Eric D.\} and Deryn Chu and Baker, \{David R.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 American Chemical Society",

year = "2025",

month = aug,

day = "15",

doi = "10.1021/acscatal.5c00756",

language = "English",

volume = "15",

pages = "12576--12589",

journal = "ACS Catalysis",

issn = "2155-5435",

publisher = "American Chemical Society",

number = "15",

}

Kareem, H, Lee, Y, Saqib, M, Tran, DT, Alexandrova, AN, Wachsman, ED, Chu, D & Baker, DR 2025, 'Bimetallic-GDC Nanowire Catalyst as a Cathode Surface Modifier for Enhancing the Oxygen Reduction Reaction and Suppressing Cation Segregation in Low-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells', ACS Catalysis, vol. 15, no. 15, pp. 12576-12589. https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.5c00756

Bimetallic-GDC Nanowire Catalyst as a Cathode Surface Modifier for Enhancing the Oxygen Reduction Reaction and Suppressing Cation Segregation in Low-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells. / Kareem, Haval; Lee, Yonghyuk; Saqib, Muhammad et al.
In: ACS Catalysis, Vol. 15, No. 15, 15.08.2025, p. 12576-12589.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Bimetallic-GDC Nanowire Catalyst as a Cathode Surface Modifier for Enhancing the Oxygen Reduction Reaction and Suppressing Cation Segregation in Low-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

AU - Kareem, Haval

AU - Lee, Yonghyuk

AU - Saqib, Muhammad

AU - Tran, Dat T.

AU - Alexandrova, Anastassia N.

AU - Wachsman, Eric D.

AU - Chu, Deryn

AU - Baker, David R.

PY - 2025/8/15

Y1 - 2025/8/15

N2 - Surface modification of Sm1–xSrxCoO3−δ (SSC) cathodes with PtNi-GDC nanowires significantly enhances the low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (LT-SOFCs) performance. The modified SSC achieved peak power densities of 1.9 W.cm–2 at 650 °C and 0.8 W.cm–2 at 550 °C, with reduced ohmic (0.1 Ω.cm2) and non-ohmic (0.3 Ω.cm2) impedance at 550 °C, demonstrating increased stability over 1000 h. Following infiltration, surface Sr 3d5/2 decreased to 58.3%, while lattice Sr 3d5/2 increased to 41.7%, reducing the Sr surface-to-lattice ratio from 2.0 to 1.4, indicating suppressed Sr surface diffusion. This modification mitigates cation migration and enhances the efficiency of oxygen transport. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that the encapsulation of the SSC surface with PtNi3 layers promotes spontaneous oxygen dissociation with an exothermic reaction profile, in contrast to the slightly endothermic behavior observed on pristine SSC surfaces. This enhanced oxygen activation facilitates faster oxygen reduction kinetics. This study highlights surface modification’s transformative role in advancing LT-SOFC efficiency, stability, and performance.

AB - Surface modification of Sm1–xSrxCoO3−δ (SSC) cathodes with PtNi-GDC nanowires significantly enhances the low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (LT-SOFCs) performance. The modified SSC achieved peak power densities of 1.9 W.cm–2 at 650 °C and 0.8 W.cm–2 at 550 °C, with reduced ohmic (0.1 Ω.cm2) and non-ohmic (0.3 Ω.cm2) impedance at 550 °C, demonstrating increased stability over 1000 h. Following infiltration, surface Sr 3d5/2 decreased to 58.3%, while lattice Sr 3d5/2 increased to 41.7%, reducing the Sr surface-to-lattice ratio from 2.0 to 1.4, indicating suppressed Sr surface diffusion. This modification mitigates cation migration and enhances the efficiency of oxygen transport. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that the encapsulation of the SSC surface with PtNi3 layers promotes spontaneous oxygen dissociation with an exothermic reaction profile, in contrast to the slightly endothermic behavior observed on pristine SSC surfaces. This enhanced oxygen activation facilitates faster oxygen reduction kinetics. This study highlights surface modification’s transformative role in advancing LT-SOFC efficiency, stability, and performance.

KW - bimetallic nanowire

KW - density functional theory

KW - infiltration

KW - low temperature SOFC

KW - oxygen reduction reaction

KW - surface modification

KW - surface segregation

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105010293819

U2 - 10.1021/acscatal.5c00756

DO - 10.1021/acscatal.5c00756

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105010293819

SN - 2155-5435

VL - 15

SP - 12576

EP - 12589

JO - ACS Catalysis

JF - ACS Catalysis

IS - 15

ER -

Bimetallic-GDC Nanowire Catalyst as a Cathode Surface Modifier for Enhancing the Oxygen Reduction Reaction and Suppressing Cation Segregation in Low-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

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Keywords

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