Half-cell Study of La and Ca doped Strontium Titanates Anode for Direct Methane Solid Oxide Fuel Cell

摘要

One of the major advantages of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) over other fuel cells is use of direct natural gas at high temperature without any external reformer. Conventional nickel-yttria stabilized zirconia (Ni-YSZ) composite anode provides excellent catalytic property, current collection and stability for H_2 oxidation but it is not tolerant towards sulphur poisoning and also accelerates coke deposition in presence of methane fuel. It necessitates the use of alternate anode for direct hydrocarbon fuel. In the present work, attempts have been made to apply La and Ca doped A-site deficient SrTiO_3 (LSCT_(A-)) as potential anode for direct methane SOFC. Low catalytic activity of LSCT_(A-) is improved by infiltration of Ni and CeO_2 catalyst. Half cell (YSZ/4%Ni-6%CeO_2-LSCT_(A-)) provided 200 mW cm~(-2) maximum power density and regain its initial performance in H_2 even after 6 h exposure to humidified CH_4 at 800°C.