Pt-SDC alloy anode for methanol fueled low temperature solid oxide fuel cell

Direct methanol-fueled low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (DM LT-SOFCs) operating temperature ≤ 500 ℃ are promising candidates as portable power sources owing to the high energy density and portability of methanol. Herein, we have systematically studied the Pt-samaria-doped ceria (SDC) cermet alloy anodes with varying Pt: SDC ratios to achieve high methanol oxidation reaction activity (MOR) and resistance to CO poisoning. It is observed that the optimal composition of the Pt-SDC alloy anode is Pt0.83SDC0.17, which exhibited lower activation resistance by 63 %, better tolerance to CO poisoning by 44 %, and higher thermal stability than that of pure Pt upon direct methanol operation at 450 ℃. Such improvements were ascribed to high Pt-SDC interfacial density of reaction sites with less CO poisoning due to oxygen spill over from SDC, while thermally stable SDC also helped preserve the morphology of the Pt anode at elevated temperatures. [Display omitted] •Pt-SDC alloy anodes for direct methanol low temperature SOFC are reported.•SDC improves catalytic activity, CO resistance, and thermal stability of Pt anode.•Pt0.83SDC0.17 shows the highest performance with 63 % lower activation resistance.•Superior performance is due to high Pt/SDC interface density and oxygen spillover.