High-Performance Applications of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Dear Colleagues,

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) can convert the chemical energy of fuels into electrical energy with high efficiency and have the other advantages of low emission and fuel flexibility. Therefore, the direct use of many hydrocarbons in SOFCs (e.g., methane, ethanol, natural gas, coal mine fuels, and biogas) has attracted a great deal of attention. Ni-based cermet anode is the most ideal anode candidate for SOFCs owing to its excellent comprehensive performance in terms of electrical conductivity, fuel oxidation catalysis, thermal matching with electrolyte, and mechanical properties. However, carbon deposition is generated on the surface of Ni catalyst because of its great cracking capacity for hydrocarbon fuels, and leads to performance degradation. The carbon deposition of Ni-based cermet anode when using hydrocarbon as fuel is a key challenge to be solved. Several methods have already been explored to avoid it. One effective method for carbon removal is pre-reforming the fuel with an oxidizing gas (H₂O, CO₂, and O₂), but the diluted fuel has a reduced electrochemical performance and requires the additional use of auxiliary equipment. Some other methods have also been explored to avoid the carbon deposition, such as Ni-alloying, Ni catalysts modified by CeO₂, proton-conducting oxides or TiO₂ , additional external reforming catalysts (Ru–CeO₂), and additional internal reforming catalysts.

Best regards,

Prof. Dr. Yihan Ling
Guest Editor

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• solid oxide fuel cells
• fuel flexibility
• Ni-based cermet anode
• carbon deposition