Ruddlesden-Popper perovskite anode with high sulfur tolerance and electrochemical activity for solid oxide fuel cells

• Published in: Ceramics international 2024-12, Vol.50 (24), p.54438-54446
• Main Authors: Qu, Jifa, Shi, Huangang, Wang, Xu, Yu, Yang, Tan, Wenyi, Ding, Lianghui, Wang, Wei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anode; Impregnation; Ruddlesden-Popper perovskite oxide; Solid oxide fuel cells; Sulfur tolerance
• ISSN: 0272-8842
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2024.10.298

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are regarded as attractive electrochemical energy conversion devices owing to their exceptional efficiencies and superb fuel flexibility. However, their widespread implementations are remarkably restricted by the inferior sulfur tolerance of state-of-the-art nickel-based cermet anodes under practical conditions. Herein, a layered NaLaTiO4 (NLTO) perovskite oxide with Ruddlesden-Popper structure is designed as a new anode for SOFCs operating on sulfur-containing fuels. After impregnating NLTO into a samaria-doped ceria (SDC) scaffold, such impregnated nanocomposite anode exhibits high electrochemical activity, sulfur tolerance and stability in H2S-containing fuels due to the polar layered structure, abundant oxygen vacancies, superior surface basicity and water storage capability, leading to the efficient removal of the deposited/adsorbed sulfur on the surface of this nanocomposite anode. The electrochemical activity of the NLTO-based composite anode for fuel oxidation is further improved by adding nickel nanoparticles through impregnation, showing enhanced power outputs and considerable operational stability in H2S-containing fuels. This study provides a new, high-performing and sulfur-resistant anode for SOFCs, which may promote the commercialization of this technology. [Display omitted] •Ruddlesden-Popper perovskite anode (NaLaTiO4, NLTO) is designed for solid oxide fuel cells.•The NLTO-infiltrated anode shows high sulfur tolerance due to the polar layered structure.•The NLTO-infiltrated anode also displays high water storage capability and surface basicity.•The cell with NLTO-infiltrated anode exhibits enhanced power outputs in 500 ppm H2S-H2.•The cell with NLTO-infiltrated anode delivers superb operational stability in 500 ppm H2S-H2.