Stability and performance of SOFC with SrTiO3-based anode in CH4 fuel

Abstract

The performance of an alternative anode using LST (La0.2Sr0.8TiO3) perovskite material was tested both in H-2 and CH4 fuel. In order to compare the anodic performance, two single cells using LSGM (La0.9Sr0.1Ga0.8Mg0.2O3-delta) electrolyte with different anodes, i.e., Ni-GDC (Gd0.2Ce0.8O2-delta) and Ni-impregnated LSTC2 (La0.2Sr0.8Ti0.98Co0.02O3)-GDC anodes, were tested. Single cells were operated for 30 h in each fuel. In H-2 fuel, the performance of cell with Ni-GDC anode decreased with time. On the other hand, the maximum power density (MPD) of cell with Ni-impregnated LSTC2-GDC anode increased from 638 to 924 mW/cm(2) at 800 degrees C for 30 h in H-2 (Ni-contents in anode: 19 wt.%, thickness of electrolyte: similar to 250 mu m). In CH4 fuel, while the cell performance with Ni-GDC anode decreased similar to 44% for 30 h, the cell performance with Ni-impregnated LSTC2-GDC anode was relatively stable for 30 h. Thus the LST-based anode exhibited the good tolerance to carbon-induced deactivation in the internal utilization of hydrocarbon fuels as well as the high performance in H-2 fuel compared to the conventional Ni-based anode. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.