High-entropy perovskites (HEPs) such as (LaPrNdSmEu)CoO3 have emerged as a groundbreaking class of materials for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), owing to their exceptional configurational entropy and structural stability. Recent studies reveal that the configurational entropy of (LaPrNdSmEu)CoO3 exceeds 1.5R (where R is the gas constant), which significantly enhances its phase stability at high temperatures up to 1000°C. This stability is critical for SOFCs, where operational temperatures often exceed 800°C. Experimental results demonstrate that HEPs exhibit a thermal expansion coefficient of 12.5 × 10^-6 K^-1, closely matching that of common electrolytes like yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ), thereby minimizing interfacial stresses. Additionally, the oxygen ion conductivity of (LaPrNdSmEu)CoO3 reaches 0.15 S/cm at 800°C, a 40% improvement over traditional perovskite cathodes like La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-δ.
The catalytic activity of high-entropy perovskites for oxygen reduction reactions (ORR) is another area of significant advancement. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that the multi-cationic nature of (LaPrNdSmEu)CoO3 creates a unique electronic structure, lowering the activation energy for ORR by 0.3 eV compared to single-cation perovskites. Experimental measurements corroborate this, showing an exchange current density of 250 mA/cm² at 750°C, which is nearly double that of conventional cathodes. Furthermore, the presence of multiple rare-earth cations enhances surface oxygen exchange kinetics, with a surface exchange coefficient (k*) of 2.8 × 10^-5 cm/s at 700°C, a 60% increase over La0.8Sr0.2MnO3.
Mechanical robustness and durability are critical for long-term SOFC operation, and high-entropy perovskites excel in this regard. Nanoindentation studies reveal that (LaPrNdSmEu)CoO3 exhibits a hardness of 12 GPa and a fracture toughness of 2.5 MPa·m^1/2, outperforming traditional perovskites by 30% and 25%, respectively. These properties are attributed to the lattice distortion induced by multiple cation sizes, which impedes crack propagation. Long-term stability tests under SOFC operating conditions show minimal degradation in performance after 1000 hours, with polarization resistance increasing by only 5%, compared to a 20% increase in La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-δ.
The tunability of high-entropy perovskites offers unprecedented opportunities for optimizing SOFC performance through compositional engineering. By varying the ratio of rare-earth cations in (LaPrNdSmEu)CoO3, researchers have achieved tailored properties such as enhanced ionic conductivity and reduced thermal expansion mismatch with electrolytes. For instance, increasing the Pr content from 20% to 30% boosts ionic conductivity by 25%, while maintaining phase stability up to 1100°C. This flexibility enables the design of HEPs with optimized properties for specific SOFC configurations, paving the way for next-generation energy conversion devices.
Finally, the economic and environmental implications of high-entropy perovskites are noteworthy despite their complex synthesis process requiring precise control over cation stoichiometry during solid-state reactions or sol-gel methods—the cost-to-performance ratio remains favorable due to their extended operational lifespan exceeding traditional materials by over two-fold under identical conditions—and reduced reliance on scarce elements like cobalt through efficient utilization within multi-component systems.
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