Upgrading the performance of La2Mo2O9-based solid oxide fuel cell under single chamber conditions

Various anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), based on 10 mol% Dy-doped La2Mo2O9 (LDM) electrolyte, are prepared analytically and operated under single chamber conditions to explore the connections between electrode and power performance. The cathode of tested SOFCs is compositionally graded with three composites of samarium strontium cobaltite and Gd-doped ceria (GDC) to relax the thermal stress, because of sizable thermal expansion differences above 400 °C. We focus the research attention on varying the anode pore structure and composition to promote the power performance in methane/air mixture at 700 °C. For the one-layer support of GDC+NiO+LDM anode, addition of 10 wt% graphite minimizes its mass transport resistance through creating 8–5 μm long and ∼1 μm wide slit-shaped pores. The graphite pore former raises the peak power value by 80 mW cm−2. Adopting a more porous and active outer layer, the double-layer support further enhances the cell power. The peak power was first raised by 48 mW cm−2, using an outer layer that was prepared with 63 wt% NiO. Dosing 3% Pd on this outer layer uplifts another 59 mW cm−2. In this study, with an improved anode, the peak power value reaches 437 mW cm−2.

► Anode-supported SOFCs based on La2Mo2O9 are designed and in-situ initialized.
► The matching SSC + GDC cathode is compositionally graded.
► The double-layer GDC+NiO+LDM anode has a more porous and active outer layer.
► With an improved anode, the peak power is raised from 220 to 437 mW cm−2 at 700 °C.