Performance of Ni–Fe/gadolinium-doped CeO2 anode supported tubular solid oxide fuel cells using steam reforming of methane

Iron nanoparticles (Fe2O3) were added to NiO/gadolinium-doped CeO2 (GDC) anode supported solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) for the direct methane–water fuel operation. The cell was co-sintered at 1400 °C, and the anode porosity is 31.8%. The main size corresponding to peak volume is around 1.5 μm. When steam and methane directly fed to the cell, the power density is about 0.57 W cm−2 at 650 °C. It is the familiar performance for H2 operation (4 times of flow rate) with same fuel utilization. Compare with the testing temperature of 600 and 650 °C, there is almost no carbon fiber deposition at 700 °C with steam/methane (S/C) of 5. At the same time, fuel operation of high value of S/C (=3.3) resulted in fiber-like deposition and degradation of power performance based on loading test results.

► Ni–Fe/GDC anode porosity is 31.8% co-sintering at 1400 °C.
► Without carbon deposition, the maximum power density is 0.75 W cm−2 at 700 °C.
► Low steam/carbon and operating temperature resulted in carbon fiber deposition.