Effect of Ba doping on performance of LST as anode in solid oxide fuel cells

The level of barium doping in lanthanum strontium titanate (La0.4Sr0.6−xBaxTiO3, 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2; LST, x = 0; LSBT, x > 0), prepared by solid state synthesis, affects its performance as anode in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Cell structures of LST and all LSBT were similar. The oxidation state of Ti in all compounds was reduced by a comparable amount when LST or LSBT was heated under reducing conditions to form La0.4Sr0.6−xBaxTi0.594+Ti0.413+O2.97. All fuel cells using LST or LSBT had high activity for conversion of hydrogen or methane, and the activity increased with the level of substitution by Ba. In addition, performance was enhanced when H2S was present in either CH4 or H2 fuel. There was good contact between YSZ electrolyte and each LSBT or LSB anode.