Performance of Alternative Oxide Anodes for the Electrochemical Oxidation of Hydrogen and Methane in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

✍ Scribed by H. Tu; H. Apfel; U. Stimming

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2006
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 280 KB
• Volume: 6
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1615-6846
• DOI: 10.1002/fuce.200500216

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

The electrode performances of the alternative oxides: La~0.05~Ca~0.95~Cr~0.05~Ti~0.95~O~3‐δ~‐8YSZ and Ce~0.8~TM~0.2~O~2‐δ~(TM=Mn, Co) for the direct electrochemical oxidation of methane are investigated to assess their potential as anode materials for efficient methane conversion in a SOFC. The electrochemical oxidation of hydrogen was also studied, for comparison. The oxides are characterised electrochemically with impedance spectroscopy in the frequency range from 10 mHz to 1MHz, using a three‐electrode geometry. They are compared to a standard Ni/8YSZ anode for the electrochemical oxidation of hydrogen. It is found that La~0.05~Ca~0.95~Cr~0.05~Ti~0.95~O~3‐δ~‐8YSZ demonstrates a poor electrochemical activity in both hydrogen and methane. However, the electrochemical activity of Ce~0.8~Mn~0.2~O~2‐δ~ is promising, but the electronic conductivity needs to be increased, e.g., by adding a conducting oxide, before it can be used as an anode material in a SOFC.