Co-tape casting fabrication, field assistant sintering and evaluation of a coke resistant La0.2Sr0.7TiO3–Ni/YSZ functional gradient anode supported solid oxide fuel cell

•LST–Ni/YSZ FGA supported SOFC was fabricated by co-tape casting.•It was sintered under the assistant of a DC field.•LST–Ni/YSZ FGA supported SOFC showed 600 mW cm−2 at 750 °C and stable for 70 h in CH4.•No C deposition was detected, implied the coke resistant property of this SOFC.

The ability to directly utilize hydrocarbons and other renewable liquid fuels is one of the most important issues affecting the large scale deployment of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Herein we designed La0.2Sr0.7TiO3–Ni/YSZ functional gradient anode (FGA) supported SOFCs, prepared with a co-tape casting method and sintered using the field assisted sintering technique (FAST). Through SEM observations, it was confirmed that the FGA structure was achieved and well maintained after the FAST process. Distortion and delamination which usually results after conventional sintering was successfully avoided. The La0.2Sr0.7TiO3–Ni/YSZ FGA supported SOFCs showed a maximum power density of 600 mW cm−2 at 750 °C, and was stable for 70 h in CH4. No carbon deposition was detected using Raman spectroscopy. These results confirm the potential coke resistance of La0.2Sr0.7TiO3–Ni/YSZ FGA supported SOFCs.