Improvement of the internal reforming of metal-supported SOFC at low temperatures

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy 2023-07, Vol.48 (65), p.25487-25498
• Main Authors: Miura, Yohei, Takemiya, Satoshi, Fukuyama, Yosuke, Kato, Takashi, Taniguchi, Shunsuke, Sasaki, Kazunari
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Catalyst infiltration; Internal methane reforming; Iso-octane; Metal-supported SOFC
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2023.03.195

Automotive Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) require improvements in mechanical robustness, power generation at low temperatures, and system compactness. To address these issues, we attempt to improve the internal reformation of metal-supported SOFCs (MS-SOFCs) via catalyst infiltration. After introducing nickel/gadolinium-doped ceria (Ni/GDC) nanoparticles, power densities of 1.16 Wcm−2 with hydrogen (3%H2O) and 0.85 Wcm−2 with methane (Steam-to-Carbon ratio, S/C = 1.0) are obtained at 600 °C, 0.7 V. This is the highest performance achieved in previous studies on MS-SOFCs. Internal reforming with various hydrocarbon is also demonstrated. In particular 0.64 Wcm−2 at 600 °C, 0.7 V is obtained when the fuel is iso-octane. We develop a numerical model to separately analyze reforming and electrochemical reaction. Catalyst infiltration dramatically increases the number of active sites for steam reforming. In addition, ruthenium/gadolinium-doped ceria (Ru/GDC) should be suitable as a catalyst metal at low temperatures because of the lower activation energy of steam reforming. •Ru/GDC or Ni/GDC catalyst has been infiltrated to metal-supported SOFCs.•Catalyst infiltration improves hydrogen reduction reaction and internal methane reforming.•The highest performance in previous studies on metal-supported SOFCs is obtained.•Infiltrated Ni/GDC enables internal reformation using natural gas, propane and iso-octane.•Increase of the number of active sites for steam reforming is found using numerical model.