Investigating the CH4 reaction pathway on a novel LSCF anode catalyst in the SOFC

Abstract

Abstract For the first time, the perovskite lanthanum strontium cobalt ferrite (LSCF) is demonstrated to exhibit catalytic activity for the direct electrochemical oxidation of CH 4 in a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) anode environment for more than 72 h with a steady state flow of CH 4 at 900 °C, producing a maximum of 186 W/cm 2 . Results of the transient response studies suggested that the electrochemical oxidation of CH 4 on the anode produced electricity, H 2 O, and CO 2 via (i) CH 4 decomposition, (ii) electrochemical oxidation of hydrogen to H 2 O, and (iii) electrochemical oxidation of carbon to CO 2 . The formation of CO 2 and CO takes place in a parallel pathway: C + 2O 2− → CO 2 ; C + O 2− → CO; where the intrinsic rate constant for the formation of CO 2 is greater than that of CO.