BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.1Yb0.1O3-[delta] as highly active and carbon tolerant anode for direct hydrocarbon solid oxide fuel cells

Abstract

BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.1Yb0.1O3d (BZCYYb) perovskite is synthesized and examined as an alternativeanode material for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs) based ondirect hydrocarbon fuels, using polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopytechniques. Single-phased BZCYYb anode shows an excellent activity for both hydrogenand methane oxidation reactions, achieving a polarization resistance of 0.25 and0.93 U cm2, and overpotential of 20 and 202 mV at 100 mA cm2 and 750 C in wet H2 (3%H2O/97% H2) and wet CH4 (3% H2O/97% CH4), respectively. The electrocatalytic activity ofBZCYYb anodes is significantly higher than that of the (La,Sr)(Cr,Mn)O3 anodes as reportedin the literature. Furthermore, BZCYYb exhibits excellent resistance to carbon deposition.The present study demonstrates that BZCYYb perovskite is a promising alternative anodematerial for direct hydrocarbon fuels based SOFCs.