A direct ethanol anode for solid oxide fuel cell based on a chromite-manganite with catalytic ruthenium nanoparticles

La0.75Sr0.25Cr0.50Mn0.50O3 (LSCM) perovskite was studied aiming at effective anodes for direct (dry) ethanol fueled solid oxide fuel cells. Both the transport and catalytic properties of LSCM were studied in compounds with partial substitutions of either Mn or Cr by Ru (LSCM-Ru). X-ray diffraction data evidenced that single phase compounds were obtained at 1200 °C, without significant structural distortions upon Ru addition. Under reducing atmosphere both the exsolution of Ru nanoparticles to the surface of LSCM grains and enhanced electronic conductivity of LSCM-Ru samples were observed. Solid oxide single fuel cells tests showed that LSCM-Ru anodes have higher performance running on direct ethanol than on hydrogen. Such an increase in fuel cell performance was correlated to both the enhanced electronic transport and the catalytic properties of LSCM-Ru. The catalytic tests revealed that Ru addition enhanced the stability of LSCM and suppressed carbon deposition under ethanol, indicating that such compound is a promising anode for direct ethanol solid oxide fuel cell.

► Ru nanoparticles were added to a chromite-manganite ceramic anode.
► Ru addition enhanced transport and catalytic properties of the ceramic anode.
► Fuel cells running on dry ethanol exhibited higher performance than on H2.
► The absence of carbon deposits was confirmed by catalytic tests of the anodes.