Ni-(Ce0.8-xTix)Sm0.2O2-δ anode for low temperature solid oxide fuel cells running on dry methane fuel

A titanium-doped Ce 0.8 Sm 0.2 O 1.9 composite is developed as an anode component of low temperature solid oxide fuel cells running on methane fuel. Crystallographic parameters of (Ce 0.8-x Ti x )Sm 0.2 O 2-δ (0.00 0.8-x Ti x )Sm 0.2 O 2-δ composites are applied to an anode-supported single cell consisting of Ni-(Ce 0.8-x Ti x )Sm 0.2 O 2-δ anode/Ce 0.8 Sm 0.2 O 1.9 electrolyte/La 0.6 Sr 0.4 Co 0.2 Fe 0.8 O 3-δ cathode. Catalytic properties of Ni-(Ce 0.8-x Ti x )Sm 0.2 O 2-δ are inspected with the electrochemical performance and performance stability of the cells in dry methane fuel. The cell with Ni-(Ce 0.73 Ti 0.07 )Sm 0.2 O 2-δ (x = 0.07) anode displays a low polarization resistance and an optimum maximum power density (679 mW cm −2 at 600 °C). A performance stability investigation indicates that the cell exhibits a fairly low degradation rate of 3 mV h −1 during a 31 h operation in dry methane. These findings suggest the application potential of the titanium doped Ce 0.8 Sm 0.2 O 1.9 for the anode of solid oxide fuel cells.