Fabrication and characterization of anode-supported single chamber solid oxide fuel cell based on La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3−δ–Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95 composite cathode

• Single chamber SOFC of NiO–CGO/CGO/LSCF–CGO was prepared and characterized.
• Different processing and operational parameters were optimized in a same work.
• The best output of 260 mW cm−2 was obtained at 600 °C in CH4/O2 = 2 atmosphere.

Anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells consisting of nickel–gadolinium doped ceria (NiO–CGO, 60:40 wt%) anode, gadolinium doped ceria (CGO) electrolyte and lanthanum strontium cobaltite ferrite–gadolinium doped ceria (LSCF–CGO) cathode are developed and operated under single-chamber conditions, utilizing methane/air mixture. The cell performance is optimized regarding the electrolyte microstructure, cathode composition and testing conditions. The performance of the cell improves with the decrease of the thickness of the electrolyte and the increase of the ratio of methane to oxygen. The test cell with LSCF–CGO cathode (70:30 wt%) that was sintered at 1100 °C for 2 h and 150 μm dense electrolyte exhibits the maximum power output of ∼260 mW cm−2 at 600 °C in CH4/O2 = 2 atmosphere.