Progress in the study of sulfur poisoning of anodes in solid oxide fuel cells

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) have attracted considerable attention as a promising technology for future energy development because of their high energy efficiency and wide range of available fuels. However, challenges such as long-term anode degradation caused by trace sulfur in carbonaceous fuels must be overcome before SOFCs can be used for large-scale industrial production. Extant reviews on sulfur poisoning of SOFC anodes have focused on summarizing the sulfur-resistant anode materials. This paper comprehensively reviews the mechanisms underlying sulfur poisoning, potential methods for anode regeneration after poisoning, and recent advances in mitigating sulfur poisoning. In particular, the effects of SOFC operating parameters on the mechanism of sulfur poisoning and the relationship between sulfur poisoning and carbon deposition are comprehensively evaluated. Adjusting the working conditions of the SOFC and optimizing the anode material are effective measures to alleviate the issue of sulfur poisoning. This review highlights the present issue of sulfur poisoning-related anode deterioration and provides a solid foundation for future problem solving. It will potentially provide a solid theoretical foundation for addressing the issue of degradation caused by sulfur poisoning.