A significant hydration and protonic conduction in La2NiO4+δ‐based Ruddlesden–Popper (RP) oxides will enable their use as positrode materials in proton ceramic electrochemical cells (PCECs). Unlike perovskite electrolytes and positrode materials, where protons reside and jump on regular oxide ions, RP oxides such as La2NiO4+δ may contain oxygen interstitials and offer the possibility that protons locate on and migrate by help of these, suggesting a mechanism by which positrodes may operate by triple conduction. Here, theoretical calculations that support proton migration between interstitial oxide ions in the rock‐salt layer via unshared oxide ions in the perovskite layer are reported. Furthermore, water contents of pristine La2NiO4+δ and La2‐xAxNiO4+δ (A = Ca, Sr, Ba) are reported, showing that hydration increases with the level and basicity of the dopant. Hebb‐Wagner blocking electrode measurements show significant partial protonic conductivity in all samples. The effects of doping on hydration and of pH2O on the p‐type conductivity suggest that protons reside primarily on structural oxide ion, but a role of interstitial oxide ions for dissolution and migration of protons cannot be ruled out in cases with oxygen excess. The results are instructive for further studies and optimization of RP oxides as potential positrode materials for PCECs.
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are an attractive type of fuel cell that have received successful commercialization, benefitted from its unique advantages (including an all solid-state structure, a low operating temperature and low environmental impact). In general, the structure of PEMFCs can be regarded as a sequential stacking of functional layers, among which the gas diffusion layer (GDL) plays an important role in connecting bipolar plates and catalyst layers both physically and electrically, offering a route for gas diffusion and drainage and providing mechanical support to the membrane electrode assemblies. The GDL commonly contains two layers; one is a thick and rigid macroporous substrate (MPS) and the other is a thin microporous layer (MPL), both with special functions. This work provides a brief review on the GDL to explain its structure and functions, summarize recent progress and outline future perspectives.
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