The role of the ceria dopant on Ni / doped-ceria anodic layer cermets for direct ethanol solid oxide fuel cell

Abstract

The effect of ceria dopant aiming at stability in Ni/doped-ceria anodic layers for direct ethanol solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) was studied. Solid solutions of ceria doped with Y, Gd, Zr, or Nb (10 mol%) impregnated with NiO were tested in a fixed bed reactor for ethanol conversion reactions and for direct (dry) ethanol SOFC. The ceria dopant showed a marked effect on both the catalytic and the electrical transport properties of the ceramic support. Catalytic activity data revealed that the studied materials deactivate in ethanol decomposition reaction but are stable for ethanol steam reforming. Thus, feeding dry ethanol to the SOFC with a Ni/doped-ceria anodic catalytic layer evidenced that water produced from the electrochemical hydrogen oxidation provides steam for the internal reforming resulting in great stability of the fuel cells tested during ~100 h. The combined catalysis and SOFC results demonstrate Ni/doped-ceria is as candidate anode layer for stable SOFC running on bioethanol.