Preparation and characterization of Sm0.2Ce0.8O1.9/Na2CO3 nanocomposite electrolyte for low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells

Sm0.2Ce0.8O1.9 (SDC)/Na2CO3 nanocomposite synthesized by the co-precipitation process has been investigated for the potential electrolyte application in low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). The conduction mechanism of the SDC/Na2CO3 nanocomposite has been studied. The performance of 20 mW cm−2 at 490 °C for fuel cell using Na2CO3 as electrolyte has been obtained and the proton conduction mechanism has been proposed. This communication demonstrates the feasibility of direct utilization of methanol in low-temperature SOFCs with the SDC/Na2CO3 nanocomposite electrolyte. A fairly high peak power density of 512 mW cm−2 at 550 °C for fuel cell fueled by methanol has been achieved. Thermodynamical equilibrium composition for the mixture of steam/methanol has been calculated, and no presence of C is predicted over the entire temperature range. The long-term stability test of open circuit voltage (OCV) indicates the SDC/Na2CO3 nanocomposite electrolyte can keep stable and no visual carbon deposition has been observed over the anode surface.