Enhanced stability of Ni–Fe/GDC solid oxide fuel cell anodes for dry methane fuel

The addition of Fe into Ni/GDC (Gadolinium-Doped Ceria) anodes significantly improved the long-term stability of SOFC. While a Ni/GDC anode failed to operate after 12 h at a current density of 0.2 A cm− 2 and 650 °C with dry methane flow, the cell performance of a Ni0.9Fe0.1/GDC anode showed no degradation over 50 h. The outlet gas of SOFC was analyzed by mass spectrometry, and the results revealed that methane was oxidized more completely on a Ni–Fe/GDC anode compared to a Ni/GDC anode. The change in catalytic properties due to the addition of Fe caused methane fuel oxidized more completely, which enhanced the long-term stability of the cell.

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► Fe was added into Ni/GDC (Gadolinium-Doped Ceria) anodes.
► The addition of Fe significantly improved the long-term stability of SOFC at 650°C.
► The change in catalytic properties caused methane fuel oxidized more completely.
► The changed catalytic properties resulted in much less carbon deposit on the anode.