Operando Exsolved FeNi3 Nanoparticles for Boosting Ethanol Internal Reforming in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Abstract

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) powered by ethanol are considered a promising pathway for power generation with high efficiency and flexibility from sustainable sources. Among the major challenges is the choice of catalytically active, chemically stable and coking tolerant fuel electrode (anode) for the internal reforming and oxidation of ethanol. Here, the operando exsolved FeNi 3 nanoparticles from Nidoped SFM (Sr2Fe1.3Mo0.5Ni0.2O 6±δ , SFMNi) fuel electrodes significantly enhance the SOFC power output. Our analyses confirm that Ni doping increases surface basicity and oxygen vacancy concentration promoting ethanol steam reforming selectivity toward dehydrogenation pathways over dehydration, which is predominant for the undoped SFM sample. The thermocatalytic studies show the high ethanol reforming activity of FeNi 3 nanoparticles with strong coking tolerance as confirmed by the crystallographic and Raman post-reaction data. Such a robust catalytic properties result in an >30% enhancement in the peak power density of the SOFC with proven stability for 70 h. Our findings highlight the strong coupling between reforming activity and electrochemical performance, positioning nanoparticle-functionalized perovskite electrodes as a promising strategy for efficient and flexible SOFCs operating on renewable fuels.