Enhanced stability of Ni-Fe/GDC solid oxide fuel cell anodes for dry methane fuel

Abstract

The addition of Fe into Ni/GDC (Gadolinium-Doped Ceria) anodes significantly improved the long-term stability of SOFC. While a Ni/GDC anode failed to operate after 12 h at a current density of 0.2 A cm(-2) and 650 degrees C with dry methane flow, the cell performance of a Ni(0 9)Fe(0.1)/GDC anode showed no degradation over 50 h. The outlet gas of SOFC was analyzed by mass spectrometry, and the results revealed that methane was oxidized more completely on a Ni-Fe/GDC anode compared to a Ni/GDC anode. The change in catalytic properties due to the addition of Fe caused methane fuel oxidized more completely, which enhanced the long-term stability of the cell. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.