Li/Na Modified Ni-SDC Anode for Methane-Fueled Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

A facile chemically lithium/sodium insertion method has been developed to prepare Li/Na modified-NiO composites (Li/Na-NiO). The single cells were fabricated with a Li/Na modified NiO-Ce 0.8 Sm 0.2 O 1.9 (SDC) composite anode screened on a 300µm La 0.9 Sr 0.1 Ga 0.8 Mg 0.2 O 3-δ (LSGM) electrolyte and a composite cathode consisting of Sr 0.95 Ce 0.05 CoO 3-δ and SDC (30wt%). The cells with Li/Na modified Ni-SDC anode material deliver much higher open circuit voltages (OCV) than that of the cell with pure Ni-SDC anode. When wet CH 4 was used as fuel, the peak power densities of the cells with the Li and Na modified Ni-SDC anode reach about 212mW cm -2 and 231mW cm -2 at 800 o C, respectively, which were much higher than that with the pristine Ni-SDC anode. In addition, the cells with Li/Na modified Ni-SDC anode materials show better long-term stability at 800 o C. The preliminary results demonstrate that the Li/Na modified Ni-SDC anode materials are promising alternative anode for hydrocarbon-fueled solid oxide fuel cells.