Stability and performance of SOFC with SrTiO3-based anode in CH4 fuel

The performance of an alternative anode using LST (La0.2Sr0.8TiO3) perovskite material was tested both in H2 and CH4 fuel. In order to compare the anodic performance, two single cells using LSGM (La0.9Sr0.1Ga0.8Mg0.2O3 − δ) electrolyte with different anodes, i.e., Ni-GDC (Gd0.2Ce0.8O2 − δ) and Ni-impregnated LSTC2 (La0.2Sr0.8Ti0.98Co0.02O3)–GDC anodes, were tested. Single cells were operated for 30 h in each fuel. In H2 fuel, the performance of cell with Ni-GDC anode decreased with time. On the other hand, the maximum power density (MPD) of cell with Ni-impregnated LSTC2–GDC anode increased from 638 to 924 mW/cm2 at 800 °C for 30 h in H2 (Ni-contents in anode: 19 wt.%, thickness of electrolyte: ~ 250 μm). In CH4 fuel, while the cell performance with Ni-GDC anode decreased ~ 44% for 30 h, the cell performance with Ni-impregnated LSTC2–GDC anode was relatively stable for 30 h. Thus the LST-based anode exhibited the good tolerance to carbon-induced deactivation in the internal utilization of hydrocarbon fuels as well as the high performance in H2 fuel compared to the conventional Ni-based anode.