Performance of Ni-Fe/gadolinium-doped CeO2 anode supported tubular solid oxide fuel cells using steam reforming of methane

Iron nanoparticles (Fe2O3) were added to NiO/gadolinium-doped CeO2 (GDC) anode supported solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) for the direct methane-water fuel operation. The cell was co-sintered at 1400 degree C, and the anode porosity is 31.8%. The main size corresponding to peak volume is around 1.5 mu m. When steam and methane directly fed to the cell, the power density is about 0.57 W cm-2 at 650 degree C. It is the familiar performance for H2 operation (4 times of flow rate) with same fuel utilization. Compare with the testing temperature of 600 and 650 degree C, there is almost no carbon fiber deposition at 700 degree C with steam/methane (S/C) of 5. At the same time, fuel operation of high value of S/C (=3.3) resulted in fiber-like deposition and degradation of power performance based on loading test results.