Carbon tolerant Ni–Au SOFC electrodes operating under internal steam reforming conditions

Carbon tolerant Ni/YSZ anode modified with 1% (atomic ratio) Au with respect to Ni was tested under methane rich steam reforming conditions. The electrode was proved to be highly tolerant to C deposits, even at methane to water ratios as high as 3, at temperatures ranging between 973–1173 K. The NiAu anode was prepared by in situ combustion synthesis at 873 K and sintered in air at 1123 K. The SEM images have shown that the Au modified Ni/YSZ electrode was nanostructured with particle size ranging between 50–100 nm.