Structural and electrochemical evaluation of symmetrical and fuel flexible perovskite electrode for low temperature solid oxide fuel cell.

Various disadvantages such as indolent oxidation/reduction and carbon-hydrogen (C–H) activation has hindered the commercialization of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) operated with multi fuels at low temperatures (i.e. 400-700)°C. Extensive efforts have been made for the efficient performance of SOFCs by utilizing safe and cheap hydrocarbon fuels at low temperatures. In the current investigation, electrochemical performance of novel anode and cathode material SrMo 0.5 Fe 0.5 O 3-δ (SMFO) is evaluated in the presence of multi-fuels such as hydrogen (gaseous), ethanol (liquid) and sub-bituminous coal (solid) at low temperature ∼ 700 °C. SMFO (synthesized through solid state reaction route) is thoroughly investigated via X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). The average particle size measured is in the range from (60–90) nm. The electrical conductivity and power density is obtained between (190–389) S/cm and (994–1796) × 10−3 W/cm2 respectively among the various fuels. SMFO nanomaterial exhibits greater electrical conduction ∼390Scm−1 and power density ∼1687 × 10−3W/cm2 with ethanol to be utilized as fuel. The activation energies for SMFO are found to be (1.06, 0.65, 0.56) eV in the presence of hydrogen, ethanol and coal respectively. The active conduction and improved power densities make the fabricated nanomaterial well suited for SOFCs (at low temperature) both as cathode and anode with multi-fuel consumption. [Display omitted] • Novel SMFO is synthesized via solid state reaction route. • SMFO is fuel flexible symmetric electrode material for SOFCs at low temperature. • SMFO is operated successfully with hydrogen, ethanol and sub-bituminous coal. • Maximum conductivity and power density were indicated with ethanol as fuel. • Lowest activation energies ∼0.56eV was obtained for sub-bituminous coal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]