A solid oxide fuel cell operating on hydrogen sulfide (H 2S) and sulfur-containing fuels

• Published in: Journal of power sources Vol. 135; no. 1; pp. 17 - 24
• Main Authors: Aguilar, Luis, Zha, Shaowu, Cheng, Zhe, Winnick, Jack, Liu, Meilin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 03.09.2004; Elsevier Sequoia
• Subjects: Anode; Applied sciences; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Fuel cells; H 2S; Perovskite; SOFC; Sulfur tolerant; H 2S; Perovskite; Sulfur tolerant; Anode; SOFC; Hydrogen Sulfides; Lanthanum Strontium Vanadium Oxides; H2S; Electrode material; Performance; Sulfur; Solid oxide fuel cell
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2004.03.061

A new class of materials based on La x Sr 1− x VO 3− δ (LSV) has been studied as the anode for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) operating on H 2S-containing fuels. The LSV-based anodes are chemically and electrochemically stable under SOFC operating conditions. Furthermore, they appear to be active towards the preferential oxidation of H 2S over hydrogen, as suggested by open circuit voltage, impedance spectra, and cell performance measurements using various H 2S and H 2 fuel mixtures. A system with configuration LSV/YSZ/LSM–YSZ showed a maximum power density of 90 mW/cm 2 at 220 mA/cm 2 with a 5% H 2S–95% N 2 fuel mixture at 1273 K. This same cell configuration showed a maximum power density of 135 mW/cm 2 at 280 mA/cm 2 when the fuel was a 5% H 2S–95% H 2 mixture at 1273 K. Cell performances were stable and showed no significant deterioration during a 48 h period. Impedance measurements showed overall cell resistances decreased with increasing temperature and H 2S content of the fuel. The results are promising due to the drastic improvement in sulfur tolerance compared to the current generation of SOFC anode materials.