Ethanol-fueled metal supported solid oxide fuel cells with a high entropy alloy internal reforming catalyst

Abstract

High-performance metal supported solid oxide fuel cells (MS-SOFC) with an integrated high entropy alloy (HEA) internal reforming catalyst (IRC) are demonstrated for transportation applications using ethanol and methanol as fuels. Addition of the HEA IRC dramatically improves cell performance and stability when using ethanol/water blend fuel. Absence of carbon deposition predicted by thermodynamic calculations is confirmed by Raman spectroscopy analysis of posttest anodes. Optimal catalyst processing (deposition technique, loading, firing temperature) and cell operation conditions (flow rates, temperature, fuel compositions) are explored. Infiltrated HEA reforming catalyst provides a highly porous structure and low catalyst loading (6 mg cm−2). The designed structure and catalysts achieve small mass transport resistances in the fuel electrode (26.2 s m−1) and oxygen electrode (41.6 s m−1). The best ethanol concentration (60:40 v% ethanol: water) provides 0.83 W cm−1 at 700 °C, without carbon deposition. The ethanol-fueled MS-SOFC is operated for 500 h, including five thermal cycles. Cell evolution is similar to that reported previously for hydrogen fuel; nickel aggregation and chromia deposition were the major observed changes, and carbon formation can be avoided even after long-term operation.