Fabrication and characterization of Cu–Ni–YSZ SOFC anodes for direct use of methane via Cu-electroplating

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 34; no. 13; pp. 5537 - 5545
• Main Authors: Park, Eon Woo, Moon, Hwan, Park, Moon-soo, Hyun, Sang Hoon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: ANODES; Applied sciences; Carbon; Carbon deposition; Copper; COPPER SULFATE; Cu-electroplating; DENSITY; DEPOSITION; Direct oxidation; ELECTROPLATING; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; FABRICATION; FUEL CELLS; METHANE; Methane fuel; Nickel; Solid oxide fuel cell; Carbon deposition; Methane fuel; Direct oxidation; Solid oxide fuel cell; Cu-electroplating; Methane; Anode; Durability; Solid solution; Characterization; Electrodeposition; Nickel; Oxidation; Manufacturing; Copper; Performance
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2009.04.060

The Cu–Ni–YSZ cermet anodes for direct use of methane in solid oxide fuel cells have been fabricated by electroplating Cu into a porous Ni–YSZ cermet anode. The uniform distribution of Cu in the Ni–YSZ anode was obtained by electroplating in an aqueous solution mixture of CuSO 4·5H 2O and H 2SO 4 for 30 min with 0.1 A of applied current. When the Cu–Ni–YSZ anode was exposed to methane at 700 °C, the amount of carbon deposited on the anode decreased as the amount of Cu in the Cu–Ni solid solution increased. The power density (0.24 W/cm 2) of a single cell with a Cu–Ni–YSZ anode was slightly lower in methane at 700 °C than the power density (0.28 W/cm 2) of a single cell with a Ni–YSZ anode. However, the performance of the Ni–YSZ anode-supported single cell degraded steeply over 21 h because of carbon deposition, whereas the Cu–Ni–YSZ anode-supported single cell showed enhanced durability up to 200 h.