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Enhancing the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) kinetics is crucial for improving the electrochemical performance of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Various strategies have been explored to modify state-of-the-art ion-conducting cathode scaffolds by incorporating electrocatalysts to create synergistic effects. In this study, we utilize radio frequency (RF) sputtering to integrate platinum (Pt) and ruthenium (Ru) electrocatalysts into gadolinium-doped ceria (GDC) scaffolds, aiming to enhance ORR kinetics. Electrochemical analyses reveal that Ru-sputtered electrocatalysts exhibit superior catalytic activity and long-term stability compared to Pt-sputtered counterparts. Postmortem analysis using energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) identifies Pt agglomeration as the primary cause of its poor stability. In contrast, Ru undergoes an in situ transformation into a stable, needle-like RuO2 phase during operation, significantly improving durability. The RF sputtering approach presents a simple, cost-effective method for deploying highly efficient and thermally stable Ru electrocatalysts, offering a viable pathway toward the commercial realization of high-performance SOFCs.
Ishfaq et al. (Tue,) studied this question.