Robust in situ exsolved nanocatalysts on perovskite oxide as an efficient anode for hydrocarbon fueled solid oxide fuel cells

Abstract

In this work, three highly active anode materials are developed to effectively catalyze hydrogen and hydrocarbons in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). A-site deficient (Pr_0.5Ba_0.5)_0.9MnO_3−δ materials doped with different Fe contents (PBM_1−yF_y, y = 0, 0.2, 0.4) have a typical cubic-hexagonal heterostructure. It is indicated that (Pr,Ba)O_x nanoparticles are homogeneously in situ exsolved from the parent PBM_1−yF_y oxides during the reduction process to form PBO@LPBMF anode materials, exhibiting good electro-catalytic activity and considerable stability towards both hydrogen and propane fuels, which can be explained by the improved electro-catalytic properties and good carbon coking resistance of the in situ exsolved (Pr,Ba)O_x nanoparticles. It is also found that the La_0.8Sr_0.2Ga_0.8Mg_0.2O_3−δ electrolyte-supported single cell with the PBO@LPBM_0.8F_0.2 anode exhibits better electrochemical performance than the PBO@LPBM_0.6F_0.4 anode. The maximum peak power density of the single cell with the optimal PBO@LPBM_0.8F_0.2 anode is 489 mW cm⁻² at 850 °C when fueled with propane. Our findings obtained can guide the development of other ceramic electrodes for energy conversion and storage devices.