Copper-Iron-Ceria-YSZ Anode for Direct Utilization of Hydrocarbons in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

摘要

In recent years, Cu-CeO_2/YSZ anode materials have been investigated as alternative anode materials for direct oxidation of variety of hydrocarbons for SOFC applications. However, the thermal stability of Cu-CeO_2 anode at operating temperature greater than 700 °C is a major concern. The paper reports a use of Fe species as a textural promoter to prevent Cu sintering at high temperature. Cu-Fe/CeO_2-YSZ anodes for molar ratio of Cu-Fe of 1:0 and 1:1 prepared by wet impregnation method in tape casted porous YSZ cermets. It was observed that addition of Fe in Cu-CeO_2/YSZ anodes improved the performance of SOFC. Cu-Fe/CeO_2-YSZ anodes having molar ratio of Cu-Fe of 1:1 showed power density of 180, 77 and 172 mW/cm~2 in H_2, CH_4, and n-C_4H_(10) fuels at 800 °C. Moreover, the performance of SOFC increases with the increase in temperature, Cu-Fe metal loading, and with addition of 1 wt% Pd in Cu-Fe/CeO_2-YSZ anodes. The long term stability of Cu-Fe/CeO_2-YSZ anodes for Cu-Fe molar ratio of 1:1 is presented while operating SOFC on H_2, CH4 and n-C_4H_(10) fuels at 800 °C.