Investigation of Composite Ni-Doped Perovskite Anode for Direct Oxidation of Hydrocarbons

Abstract

Ni-doped perovskite anodes have been investigated for direct oxidation of hydrocarbon in IT-SOFC. Perovskite materials are characterized by mixed electronic-ionic conductivity that combined to the high intrinsic catalytic activity of Ni allows to achieve high reaction rates in both direct oxidation and internal reforming processes while minimizing the cracking and carbon deposition processes. Suitable power densities of about 300mW•cm-2 for the direct oxidation of propane were achieved at 800{degree sign}C. Temperature programmed reduction analysis carried out in methane on a reduced catalyst has shown that Ni-doped perovskite has good catalytic activity at higher temperatures than 600{degree sign}C in absence of humidity. No carbon formation was observed in the discharged catalysts as confirmed by XRD analysis that however showed a modification of the perovskite structure.