Performance of the single-chamber solid oxide fuel cell with a La _0.75 Sr_0.25 Cr_0.5 Mn_0.5 O _3-δ -based perovskite anode

In this paper, perovskite oxide La_0.75 Sr_0.25 Cr _0.5 Mn_0.5 O_3-δ (LSCM) mixed with a small fraction Ni has been used as the anode of single-chamber solid oxide fuel cell(s) operating in a methane-oxygen mixture. The anode is prepared by an ion impregnation method, whereby a proper mixed solution with metal nitrates and urea is incorporated into the porous presintered yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) anode matrix. After sintering at 1100°C, the impregnated materials change to unique microparticles adhered to the YSZ matrix. These microparticles themselves become porous after reducing in single-chamber conditions, and this porous character is expected to facilitate the anode reaction because it would improve the gas transport. The influence of the environmental temperature and gas composition on the cell performance is also investigated. A maximum power density of 285 mW/ cm² is achieved at a gas composition of CH ₄: O₂ ≈2:1 and a furnace temperature of 800°C. The redox cycling test demonstrates that the stability of the LSCM-based anode is better compared to the conventional Ni-YSZ anode.