A research team led by Dr. Yoonseok Choi from the Korea Institute of Energy Research has developed a groundbreaking catalyst coating technology that enhances the performance of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) in just four minutes. The technology focuses on improving the oxygen reduction reaction kinetics at the air electrode of SOFCs, which has been a limiting factor compared to the fuel electrode. By applying nanoscale praseodymium oxide (PrOx) catalysts on the widely used LSM-YSZ composite electrode, the team significantly improved the cell's performance. The electrochemical deposition method introduced operates at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, requiring no complex equipment, and has been successful in promoting the oxygen reduction reaction in high-temperature environments. The researchers also elucidated the mechanism by which the nano-catalyst promotes surface oxygen exchange and ionic conduction, providing fundamental evidence of the coating method's efficacy in addressing the low reaction rate of the composite electrode.