Double-Layered Perovskite Anode with in Situ Exsolution of a Co–Fe Alloy To Cogenerate Ethylene and Electricity in a Proton-Conducting Ethane Fuel Cell

A new proton-conducting ethane fuel cell (PC-EFC) anode material comprised of double-layered perovskite (Pr0.4Sr0.6)3(Fe0.85Mo0.15)2O7 (DLP-PSFM) with uniformly dispersed in situ exsolution of Co–Fe alloy nanoparticles was prepared by annealing cubic perovskite Pr0.4Sr0.6Co0.2Fe0.7Mo0.1O3−δ in a 10% H2/N2 reducing atmosphere at 900 °C. The BaCe0.7Zr0.1Y0.2O3−δ electrolyte-supported PC-EFC single cell fabricated with the new DLP-PSFM anode material has achieved a maximal output power density of 496.2 mW cm–2 in H2 and 348.84 mW cm–2 in C2H6 at 750 °C. In the meantime, a high ethylene yield, increasing from 13.2% at 650 °C to 41.5% at 750 °C with a remarkable ethylene selectivity over 91% and no CO2 emission, was achieved because of the considerably efficient catalysis of in situ Co–Fe alloy nanoparticles that were homogeneously distributed on the DLP-PSFM backbone. Furthermore, a single cell under a constant current load of 0.65 A cm–2 reached a stable power output at 750 °C in C2H6 during the 100 h stability test. This indicates an excellent coking resistance, which is also supported by Raman spectra, X-ray diffraction patterns, and scanning electron microscopy image analyses. The results clearly indicate that the DLP-PSFM anode material possesses high ethane partial dehydrogenation activity, enhanced electrocatalytic activity, and good stability. On the basis of its remarkable performance in cogeneration of electricity and ethylene in PC-EFC, DLP-PSFM ceramic material is an attractive anode for a directly hydrocarbon-fueled solid oxide fuel cell.