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The surface evolution of La0.4Sr0.6TiO3+δ anode in solid oxide fuel cells: Understanding the sulfur-promotion effect.
- Source :
-
Journal of Power Sources . Mar2017, Vol. 343, p127-134. 8p. - Publication Year :
- 2017
-
Abstract
- The ideal solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) can be powered by readily available hydrocarbon fuels containing impurities. While this is commonly recognized as a key advantage of SOFC, it also, together with the elevated operating temperature, becomes the main barrier impeding the in-situ or operando investigations of the anode surface chemistry. Here, using a well-designed quenching experiment, we managed to characterize the near-surface structure of La 0.4 Sr 0.6 TiO 3+δ (LST) anode in SOFCs fuelled by H 2 S-containing methane. This new method enabled us to clearly observe the surface amorphization and sulfidation of LST under simulated SOFC operating conditions. The ∼1 nm-thick two dimensional sulfur-adsorbed layer was on top of the disordered LST, containing –S, –SH and elemental sulfur species. In SOFC test, such “poisoned” anode showed increased performances: a ten-fold enhanced power density enhancement (up to 30 mW cm −2 ) and an improved open circuit voltage (from 0.69 V to 1.17 V). Moreover, its anodic polarization resistance in methane decreased to 21.53 Ω cm 2 , a difference of 95% compared with the sulfur-free anode. Control experiments confirmed that once the adsorbed sulfur species were removed electrochemically, methane conversion slowed down simultaneously till full stop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 03787753
- Volume :
- 343
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Power Sources
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 121221073
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2017.01.048