(La0.75Sr0.25)(Cr0.5Mn0.5)O3/YSZ composite anodes for methane oxidation reaction in solid oxide fuel cells

The synthesis and performance of (La0.75Sr0.25)(Cr0.5Mn0.5)O3/Y2O3–ZrO2 (LSCM/YSZ) composites are investigated as alternative anodes for the direct utilization of methane (i.e., natural gas) in solid oxide fuel cells. Addition of YSZ phase greatly improves the adhesion and reduces the electrode polarization resistance of the LSCM/YSZ composite anodes. LSCM/YSZ composite anodes show reasonably good performance for the methane oxidation reaction in wet CH4 and the best electrode performance was achieved for the composite with LSCM contents of 50–60 wt.% with polarization resistances of 2–3 Ω cm2 in 97% CH4/3% H2O at 850 °C. The electrode impedance for the methane oxidation in wet CH4 on the LSCM/YSZ composite anodes was characterized by three separable arcs and the electrode behavior could be explained based on the ALS model for the reaction on the MIEC electrode. The results indicate that electrocatalytic activity of the LSCM/YSZ composite anodes for the methane oxidation is likely limited by the oxygen vacancy diffusion in the substituted lanthanum chromite-based materials.