Preparation of La/Co/Ni-based anode catalyst for direct biogas-fueled solid oxide fuel cells

Abstract

A new type of bilayered-Anode for direct biogas-fueled SOFCs was investigated. The bilayered-Anode consisted of lanthanum and cobalt-doped nickel oxide mixed with Sc2O3-stabilized ZrO2 electrolyte (LaCoNi-ScSZ) as a functional catalyst layer mainly for reforming reaction and NiO-ScSZ as an active anode layer mainly for electrochemical reaction. The cell performance was characterized by measuring I-V curves and impedance spectra. The SOFC with the LaCoNi-ScSZ functional catalyst anode layer exhibited a power density of 0.32Wcm-2 when operated with a humidified synthetic biogas (60% CH4 and 40% CO2) at 700oC. The LaCoNi-ScSZ functional catalyst caused a high coking resistance and thus the cell was stable when operated with the synthetic biogas at 700oC for 45 h.