Sulfur tolerant redox stable layered perovskite SrLaFeO4 − δ as anode for solid oxide fuel cells

Abstract

Redox stable K2NiF4 type layered perovskite SrLaFeO4−δ(SLFO4−δ) has been prepared and evaluated as anode for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). The SLFO4−δ shows linear thermal expansion behavior with TEC of 14.3×10−6K−1. It also demonstrates excellent catalytic activity for various fuels. A scandia stabilized zirconia (ScSZ, 180μm) electrolyte supported SOFC with the anode achieves maximum power densities (Pmax) of 0.93, 0.76, 0.63, and 0.46 Wcm−2 at 900–750°C, respectively, in wet H2. Pmaxs of cells supported by 250μm ScSZ reach 0.57, 0.60 and 0.50 Wcm−2 in H2, H2+50ppm H2S and propane, respectively, at 800°C. Moreover, the cells show stable power output during ~100h operation at 800°C under 0.7V in various fuels. The Pmax at 800°C in wet H2 even increases by ~11% in the subsequent two thermal cyclings, indicating that SLFO4−δ is a promising anode candidate for SOFC with good electro-catalytic activity, high stability and resistance to sulfur and coking.