Electrochemical performances of Ni1−xCux/SDC cermet anodes for intermediate-temperature SOFCs using syngas fuel

•Cu doping of Ni/SDC anode effectively suppressed carbon deposition on the anode from CO.•The cell performance was deteriorated with increasing amounts of Cu.•Ni0.8Cu0.2/SDC was found to be a promising anode composite for implementing IT-SOFCs fueled with syngas.

Ni-based alloy cermet anodes, Ni1−xCux (x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.5, and 1.0)/Ce0.8Sm0.2O1.9 (SDC), were prepared for use with syngas fuel in intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells by in situ reduction of Ni1−xCuxO compounds. The electrochemical performances of cells with the Ni1−xCux/SDC anodes were investigated at 700 and 600 °C, using humidified (3% H2O) syngas with H2/CO = 3/2 as the fuel. Cu doping of the Ni/SDC anode effectively suppressed carbon deposition on the anode. However, the cell performance was deteriorated with increasing amounts of Cu. The Ni0.8Cu0.2/SDC anode was found to be promising for use with syngas fuel.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide