Performance of Newly Developed Co doped Sm0.95Ce0.05FeO3-δ as SOFC Anode Materials

A newly developed perovskite series was investigated for performance as SOFC anodes. Sm0.95Ce0.05Fe1-xCoxO3-delta (x=0-0.05) single phase perovskite oxides were synthesized through a sol gel method. AC and DC measurements were carried out on three-electrode button cells in order to investigate the effect of Co doping on reduction stability, coke resistance and electrochemical performance as SOFC anodes. The electrical conductivity under both air and 5% H-2/N-2 decreases while catalytic activity towards methane oxidation increases as a function of cobalt concentration. Under dry hydrogen fuel, all x=0-0.03 materials showed good performance with RCT values lower than 1 Omega cm(2). The fuel cell tests under methane revealed that the x=0.03 perovskite is the most catalytically active while being resistant to coking at low operating temperatures (500 degrees C).