Direct-hydrocarbon solid oxide fuel cells with novel BaCe0.8Fe0.1Ni0.1O3-δ-impregnated NiO-GDC anode prepared by phase-inversion method

A phase-inversion method prepared NiO-GDC anode is coated by a novel perovskite material of BaCe0.8Fe0.1Ni0.1O3-δ (BCFN) via a solution impregnation to enhance the resistance of carbon deposition of the anode for direct use of hydrocarbon fuels. After a reduction in H2, the anode consists of a Ni-GDC scaffold in a straight-pore structure covered by BCFN with exsolved FeNi3 nanoparticles. With the BCFN/Ni-GDC anode, the polarization resistance of the cell is 0.034 and 0.11 Ω cm2 at 650 °C in dry H2 and dry CH4, leading to a peak power density of 720 and 475 mW cm−2, respectively. This cell performs stably in dry CH4 at 400 mA cm−2 and 650 °C for 425 h without noticeable voltage decrease and carbon deposition in the anode. In dry C2H6 at 650 °C, the cell voltage decreases linearly with time by 20 % within 390 h, which is attributed to carbon deposition in the anode.