Direct Internal Steam Reforming at SOFC with Anode Prepared Using NiO-SDC Composite Particles

The dependence of anode catalytic activities on the fuel species and the operating temperatures was investigated for use in the direct internal steam-reformed power generation. The SOFCs employing Ni-SDC cermet anode fabricated from the NiO-SDC composite particles were operated in the temperature range of 700-1000 degrees C by feeding the humidified hydrogen and methane as fuels. The cell performances with humidified hydrogen fuel were higher than those with humidified methane fuel at every operation temperature. The performances at 700 and 800 degrees C were much lower than that at 1000 degrees C when the humidified methane fuel was supplied. Considering the results of the electrochemical characterization and the microstructural observation of anode, the methane conversion and the deposited carbon appeared to significantly affect the cell performances.