In the relentless pursuit of sustainable and efficient energy storage solutions, protonic ceramic electrochemical cells (PCECs) have emerged as a promising candidate for long-duration applications. These innovative devices leverage the high proton conductivity of ceramic materials to enable energy conversion processes that could revolutionize how we store and utilize energy. However, despite their considerable potential, PCECs have been hindered by persistent challenges related to their operational stability under industrial conditions, impeding their advancement toward widespread commercial use.
A major hurdle has been the intrinsic chemical vulnerability of doped barium cerate-based electrolytes and oxygen electrodes when exposed to water vapor (H₂O), an unavoidable component during electrolysis. These materials tend to degrade chemically upon prolonged contact with water, which compromises the longevity and reliability of the cells. Additionally, the poor interfacial contact between electrodes and electrolytes has limited efficient proton transfer, further diminishing the devices’ performance and practical viability. Addressing these barriers has remained a critical objective for researchers working to unlock the full capabilities of PCECs.
In a groundbreaking study, a team of researchers, led by Tian, Li, and Lee, have introduced a novel architectural design termed the conformally coated scaffold (CCS) to overcome these longstanding impediments. This innovation involves constructing a porous proton-conducting scaffold that is then uniformly and conformally coated with a specialized electrocatalyst—Pr₁.₈Ba₀.₂NiO₄.₁ (PBN)—which is notable for its exceptional chemical stability in the presence of water, as well as its triply conductive and hydration-friendly properties. By integrating this water-tolerant PBN coating into the scaffold, the team has effectively shielded the vulnerable electrolyte materials from degradation while simultaneously enhancing interfacial bonding.
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What makes this CCS design particularly striking is its ability to consolidate the electrode-electrolyte interface into an intimately connected, percolated network that facilitates rapid proton transfer. Unlike previous approaches that relied on discrete interfaces prone to mechanical delamination and chemical attacks, the conformal coating infiltrates and reinforces the scaffold’s porous structure, ensuring comprehensive protection and connectivity. This architecture not only preserves the chemical integrity of the PCECs during operation but also enables them to sustain high current densities without performance loss.
Experimental results underscore the transformative impact of this design. PCECs employing the CCS configuration exhibited remarkable electrolysis stability for 5,000 hours at a challenging current density of −1.5 A cm⁻² and an elevated temperature of 600 °C in an atmosphere containing 40% H₂O. These metrics represent a substantial leap beyond previous benchmarks, showcasing both the robustness and the industrial feasibility of the new approach. Such stability at high operating currents and humid environments is crucial for practical long-term deployment in energy storage and conversion systems.
The choice of Pr₁.₈Ba₀.₂NiO₄.₁ as the electrocatalyst material was pivotal to the success of this strategy. This compound belongs to the Ruddlesden-Popper type oxides family, which are known for their layered structures, enabling high ionic and electronic conductivity alongside excellent chemical durability. Its triple conductivity—simultaneous transport of protons, electrons, and oxide ions—offers a multifaceted transport pathway that substantially enhances device efficiency. Moreover, its ability to maintain hydration and resist hydrolytic degradation ensures durability under harsh aqueous operating conditions, a critical attribute not commonly found in traditional electrode materials.
Beyond material selection, the fabrication process developed for the CCS is both meticulous and innovative. By employing advanced deposition techniques, the research team achieved a uniform, nano-scale conformal layer of PBN across the entire porous scaffold. This approach ensures that every proton-conducting pathway is reinforced and protected, while also maintaining the scaffold’s intrinsic porosity, which is essential for gas diffusion and reaction kinetics. The compatibility of this coating process with established manufacturing methods hints at scalability, an important consideration for transitioning from laboratory prototypes to commercial products.
The implications of this research extend significantly beyond just the improvement of PCECs’ operational stability. It offers a conceptual blueprint for how intricate material interfaces can be engineered at the microstructural level to surmount the chemical and mechanical challenges endemic to ceramic energy devices. This strategy has the potential to be adapted and expanded to other solid-state electrochemical technologies, including fuel cells, electrolyzers, and sensors, where interface degradation commonly limits durability.
Furthermore, achieving stable operation at 600 °C—a moderate temperature by ceramic standards—opens the door to integrating PCECs into existing industrial thermal management systems without excessive energy penalties. This compatibility facilitates the embedding of protonic ceramic-based energy storage systems into broader energy grids, enabling more flexible and sustainable power management, storage, and generation in various sectors ranging from renewable energy buffering to distributed generation.
The broader societal and environmental impacts of this advancement cannot be overstated. As the world increases its reliance on intermittent renewable energy sources like solar and wind, the demand for reliable, long-duration energy storage solutions grows ever more urgent. The enhanced durability and performance of PCECs realized through the conformally coated scaffold design directly address this need, potentially enabling the development of efficient energy storage systems that can cycle repeatedly without significant efficiency losses or maintenance costs over extended periods.
This research not only redefines the performance capabilities of protonic ceramic electrochemical cells but also catalyzes a paradigm shift in how scientists approach material and interface engineering in next-generation energy devices. By successfully merging chemical stability, ionic conduction, and mechanical integrity into a unified scaffold architecture, Tian and colleagues have charted a promising course toward resilient, scalable, and commercially viable solid-state energy technologies.
The study also emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, combining expertise in materials chemistry, solid-state physics, electrochemistry, and engineering to surmount a multifaceted challenge. Such collaborative frameworks will be crucial as the field moves toward optimizing PCEC components further and tailoring them for specific applications, including hydrogen production, carbon dioxide reduction, and hybrid energy conversion systems.
Looking ahead, the integration of the CCS design with emerging nanomaterials and advanced computational modeling could unlock even greater enhancements in protonic ceramic devices. Understanding and controlling the atomic-scale interactions at electrode–electrolyte boundaries will propel the development of tailor-made functional interfaces, enhancing efficiency and stability under increasingly aggressive operating parameters.
In conclusion, the introduction of the conformally coated scaffold design using water-tolerant Pr₁.₈Ba₀.₂NiO₄.₁ marks a significant milestone in protonic ceramic electrochemical cell technology. By addressing the core challenges of chemical instability and poor interfacial contact concurrently, this work paves the way for sustainable, high-performance energy storage solutions capable of meeting the rigorous demands of future energy infrastructures. As this technology progresses toward commercialization, it promises to play a key role in the transition toward cleaner, more resilient, and adaptable energy systems worldwide.
Subject of Research: Protonic ceramic electrochemical cells (PCECs) and strategies for enhancing their chemical stability and interfacial conductivity in water-containing environments.
Article Title: Conformally coated scaffold design using water-tolerant Pr₁.₈Ba₀.₂NiO₄.₁ for protonic ceramic electrochemical cells with 5,000-h electrolysis stability.
Article References:
Tian, H., Li, W., Lee, YL. et al. Conformally coated scaffold design using water-tolerant Pr₁.₈Ba₀.₂NiO₄.₁ for protonic ceramic electrochemical cells with 5,000-h electrolysis stability. Nat Energy (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-025-01800-1
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Tags: barium cerate-based electrolytesdurable ceramic scaffoldsEnergy Storage Solutionsinnovative energy storage technologiesinterfacial contact in electrochemical deviceslong-duration energy applicationsoxygen electrodes degradationPCEC operational stabilityproton conductivity improvementprotonic ceramic electrochemical cellssustainable energy conversionwater vapor effects on electrolytes