SOFC Anodes Impregnated with Noble Metal Catalyst Nanoparticles for High Fuel Utilization

Abstract

In order to improve the stability under high fuel utilization, alternative anodes are fabricated with ionic (mixed) conducting GDC (Ce0.9Gd0.1O2) and electronic conducting LST (Sr0.9La0.1TiO3), both of which act as stable ion- and electron-conducting frameworks against reduction-oxidation (redox) cycles, respectively. Noble metal catalyst nanoparticles (Rh, Pt, or Pd) are incorporated via impregnation with GDC on the LST-GDC backbones. The electrochemical characteristics, such as the stability against redox cycling and under high fuel utilization, of SOFC single cells using these anodes are characterized in humidified H2 at 800°C. Moreover, the changes of the noble metal catalyst nanoparticles before/after the high fuel utilization durability tests are analyzed and discussed.