A highly coking-resistant solid oxide fuel cell with a nickel doped ceria: Ce1−xNixO2−y reformation layer

• A single ceramic phase of nickel doped ceria: Ce1−xNixO2−y was employed as reformation layer.
• The high activity for hydrocarbon fuel reformation is demonstrated in both methane and ethanol.
• Fast oxygen ions flux and formed water are favorable for hydrocarbon reformation.
• Nickel embedded in ceria lattice induced more oxygen vacancies.

A single phase mixed oxide ion-electron conducting electrochemical catalyst of Ce1−xNixO2−y is employed as an anode functional reformation layer for a coking-resistant solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) based on oxide ion conducting electrolyte operated in methane and ethanol. The high catalytic activity of Ce1−xNixO2−y oxide for fuel reformation is demonstrated by the excellent cell performances in various fuels at relatively low temperatures (550–650 °C). The fast oxygen ions flux and formed steam at anode side are also found to be favorable for hydrocarbon reformation to promote the cell performance and long term stability. At 650 °C, maximum power densities of 415 and 271 mW cm−2 are achieved in methane and ethanol respectively. The resistance against carbon deposition is significantly improved with stable voltage output in a long-term durability operation.