Perovskite Based Anode Materials for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Application: A Review

Perovskites have gained attraction as electrode and interconnect materials for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) due to their catalytic, ionic and electrical conductivities, chemical and thermal stabilities at higher temperatures. The operation and efficiency of SOFC depends mainly on the electrodes. Each electrode, anode and cathode, has demanding materials selection criteria. State of the art nickel-yittria stabilized zirconia cermet anodes are unable to work efficiently with hydrocarbon fuels and at intermediate operating temperature range (600-800°C). Hence, there is an increasing demand for the development of alternate anode materials to improve the fuel flexibility and efficiency of SOFCs. Perovskite based materials have oxygen ion vacancies depending on composition, temperature, and surrounding crystalline environment that impart mixed ionic and electronic conductivities to them. Since perovskite can accommodate all the elements in the periodic table they can offer excellent catalytic properties. The report is about the present status of perovskites based anode materials for SOFC application.