Activation of a single-chamber solid oxide fuel cell by a simple catalyst-assisted in-situ process

Initialization is a critical processing step that has thus far limited the application of the single-chamber solid oxide fuel cell (SC-SOFC). In-situ initialization of a SC-SOFC with a nickel-based anode by methane-air mixtures was investigated. Porous Ru-CeO₂ was used as a catalyst layer over a Ni-ScSZ cermet anode. Catalytic testing demonstrated Ru-CeO₂ had high activity for methane oxidation. The Ru in the catalyst layer catalyzed the formation of syngas, which successfully reduced the nickel oxide to metallic nickel in the anode. Single cells with a La_0.8Sr_0.2MnO₃ (LSM) cathode, initialized by this in-situ reduction method, delivered peak power densities of 205 and 327 mW cm^-2 at 800 °C and 850 °C, respectively. Such performances were better than those of the cell without the Ru-CeO₂ catalyst layer that was initialized by an ex-situ reduction method were.