BaCe <sub>0.8</sub>Fe <sub>0.1</sub>Ni <sub>0.1</sub>O <sub>3− <i>δ</i> </sub>-impregnated Ni–GDC by phase-inversion as an anode of solid oxide fuel cells with on-cell dry methane reforming
Yanya Liu, J. L. Luo, Cheng Li, Bo Liu, Yan Dong, Jian Li, Lichao Jia
Abstract
BaCe<sub>0.8</sub>Fe<sub>0.1</sub>Ni<sub>0.1</sub>O<sub>3−<i>δ</i></sub> (BCFN) in a perovskite structure is impregnated consecutively by BCFN solution and BCFN suspension into a phase-inversion prepared NiO–Gd<sub>0.1</sub>Ce<sub>0.9</sub>O<sub>2−<i>δ</i></sub> (GDC) scaffold as an anode for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) with on-cell dry reforming of methane (DRM). The whole pore surface of the scaffold is covered by small BCFN particles formed by BCFN solution impregnation; the large pores near the scaffold surface are filled by BCFN aerogels with a high specific surface area produced by BCFN suspension impregnation, which act as a catalytic layer for on-cell DRM. After reduction, the anode consists of a Ni–GDC scaffold and BCFN particles with exsolved FeNi<sub>3</sub> nanoparticles. This BCFN-impregnated Ni–GDC anode has higher electrical conductivity, electrochemical activity, and resistance to carbon deposition, with which the cell shows maximum power densities between 1.44 and 0.92 W·cm<sup>−2</sup> when using H<sub>2</sub> and between 1.09 and 0.50 W·cm<sup>−2</sup> when using CO<sub>2</sub>–CH<sub>4</sub> at temperatures ranging from 750 to 600 °C. A stable performance at 400 mA·cm<sup>−2</sup> and 700 °C is achieved using 45% CO<sub>2</sub>–45% CH<sub>4</sub>–10% N<sub>2</sub> for more than 400 h without carbon deposition, benefiting from the impregnated BCFN aerogel with a high specific surface area and water adsorbability.