Intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells with Cu1.3Mn1.7O4 internal reforming layer

Cu1.3Mn1.7O4 (CMO) spinel catalyst has been synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) techniques. XRD and SEM results show that well dispersed fine Cu metallic particles were obtained after reduction by methane. TPR result shows that Cu1.3Mn1.7O4–SDC has lower hydrogen consumption and exhibits better catalytic activity than the conventional Ni catalyst. As a result, Cu1.3Mn1.7O4 spinel catalyst has been successfully developed as an internal reforming layer for Ni–SDC anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) directly operating with methane as the fuel. The cell has demonstrated maximum power densities of 304 and 375 mW cm−2 at 650 and 700 °C, respectively, and has been successfully operated at a constant current load of 0.6 A cm−2 at 650 °C over 80 h using methane as the fuel and ambient air as the oxidant. No significant carbon deposition has been observed at selected regions of the Ni–SDC anode after the short-term operating of the cell using methane as the fuel. Using methane as the fuel, the cell with Cu1.3Mn1.7O4 internal reforming layer exhibits similar reaction mechanism to that of H2 oxidation on the Ni–YSZ anode.

► Cu1.3Mn1.7O4 (CMO) has been developed as internal reforming layer for methane fueled IT-SOFCs.
► Single cells with CMO internal reforming layer output 304 mW cm−2 at 650 °C with methane as fuel.
► With CMO reforming layer, cell performance was stable under 0.6 A cm−2 at 650 °C with methane as fuel.