A stable chromite anode for SOFC with Ce/Ni exsolution for simultaneous electricity generation and CH4 reforming

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) operating at a high temperature can be used to generate electricity and produce syngas from hydrocarbon fuels. In this work, the in-situ decoration of CeO 2 and Ni nanoparticles on the surface of chromite anode has been explored; i.e. , the exsolution of CeO 2 from La 0.75 Ce 0.05 Ca 0.2 Cr 0.9 Ni 0.1 O 3 (Ce-LCN) can be achieved in the oxygenation in air to boost the exsolution of Ni 0 under the fuel condition. The SOFC with a Ce-LCN anode showed higher performance and better stability under propane and H 2 fuel than the one La 0.8 Ca 0.2 Cr 0.9 Ni 0.1 O 3 (LCN) anode because of the formation of CeO 2 and Ni 0 nanoparticles. Setting in the distribution of H 2 in the existing natural gas pipeline, hydrogen-injection in CH 4 (20% H 2 in volume in CH 4 ) was found for the first time to efficiently improve the coking resistance of the anode because the H 2 was able to boost the transfer of oxygen from the anode to the direct internal reforming. The conversion of CH 4 was found to be around 85% and the selectivity for CO was close to unity. This study provides a viable solution to the design of complex perovskite SOFC to produce electricity and syngas simultaneously from CH 4 .