The growing demand for clean energy and the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions have accelerated the development
of alternative energy solutions, with solid oxide electrochemical cells standing out due to their efficiency in energy
conversion between renewable energies and hydrogen. However, slow reaction kinetics of its oxygen electrode, particularly
at intermediate temperatures, imposes a significant obstacle to optimizing their performance, reversibility, and durability.
To address these challenges, this study introduces a new A-site deficient perovskite oxide as a potential electrode material
for reversible protonic ceramic electrochemical cells. The cation deficiency could effectively trigger the formation of oxygen
vacancies and proton defects after hydration to facilitate multiple charge carrier conduction for enhancing electrode activity.
By investigating the effects of cationic deficiency in praseodymium nickel cobaltite perovskite (Pr1-xNi0.7Co0.3O3-) on structure
and electrode polarization in symmetric cell configuration, the optimal composition is confirmed and used for integrating
into full cells. The electrochemical performances in both fuel cell and electrolysis modes were studied and the reversible
operation and short-term stability were carried out to understand the improved behaviors, providing the pathway of
creating excessive proton conductivity for enhancing reaction activity on oxygen electrode.
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/ta/d4ta08716j