A rational design of highly active and coke-resistant anode for methanol-fueled solid oxide fuel cells with Sn doped Ni-Ce0.8Sm0.2O2_?

A crucial challenge in the commercialization of Ni-based materials as the anode of solid oxide fuel cell is the fast voltage drop due to carbon deposition and structural degradation during cell operation. Herein, Sn-doped Ce0.8Sm0.2O2_delta (SDC) supported Sn-Ni alloy anode is rationally designed and prepared, via a simple and convenient dual-modification strategy. The substitution of Sn of Ce in the oxide phase enhances the mobility of lattice oxygen in SDC. Meanwhile, Sn exsolves partially from the oxide phase and forms Ni3Sn and Ni3Sn2 intermetallic compounds with Ni after reduction. The composite anode thus formed achieves unprecedent ac-tivity in the electrochemical oxidation of H2 and CH3OH. The maximum power densities of a cell supported by 500 mu m-thick Ce0.8Sm0.2O2_delta-carbonate electrolyte layer with the Ni-Ce0.7Sn0.1Sm0.2O2_delta (Ni-SSn10DC) anode reach 1.99 and 2.11 W cm_2 at 700 degrees C, respectively for using H2 and methanol as fuels. The doping of Sn also remarkably enhances the coking resistance of the anode. This work opens a path on the design of high-performance SOFC anode.