An operando surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) study of carbon deposition on SOFC anodes

• Published in: Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP Vol. 17; no. 33; pp. 21112 - 21119
• Main Authors: Li, Xiaxi, Liu, Mingfei, Lee, Jung-pil, Ding, Dong, Bottomley, Lawrence A, Park, Soojin, Liu, Meilin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Royal Society of Chemistry 01.01.2015
• Subjects: Carbon; Coking; Deposition; Hydrocarbons; INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; Nickel; Raman scattering; Solid oxide fuel cells; Surface chemistry
• ISSN: 1463-9076; 1463-9084
• DOI: 10.1039/c4cp05176a

Thermally robust and chemically inert Ag@SiO 2 nanoprobes are employed to provide the surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) effect for an in situ / operando study of the early stage of carbon deposition on nickel-based solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) anodes. The enhanced sensitivity to carbon enables the detection of different stages of coking, offering insights into intrinsic coking tolerance of material surfaces. Application of a thin coating of gadolinium doped ceria (GDC) enhances the resistance to coking of nickel surfaces. The electrochemically active Ni-YSZ interface appears to be more active for hydrocarbon reforming, resulting in the accumulation of different hydrocarbon molecules, which can be readily removed upon the application of an anodic current. Operando SERS is a powerful tool for the mechanistic study of coking in SOFC systems. It is also applicable to the study of other catalytic and electrochemical processes in a wide range of conditions. Thermally robust SERS probes enable the study of coking kinetics on the nickel surface at early stages and at the Ni-YSZ interface.