Anodic layers based on doped-Ceria/Ni cermet for direct ethanol fuel cells

Abstract

Ceria-based/Ni cermets were studied as the catalytic layer deposited onto the standard yttria-stabilized zirconia/Ni anode for direct ethanol solid oxide fuel cells. The influence of the dopant on both Zr- and Nb-doped (10 mol%) ceria and pure ceria was investigated on the properties of cermets with Ni ~15% volume fraction. Electrolyte-supported fuel cells with ceria-based/Ni catalytic layer were tested for ~100 hours under (dry) ethanol. Fuel cells using the different ceria/Ni cermets showed excellent stability on ethanol, irrespectively of the different properties of the ceramic phase of the catalytic layer. Fuel cells results confirmed that the studied ceria-based cermets are stable catalysts towards ethanol steam reforming.