Direct-methane solid oxide fuel cells with Cu1.3Mn1.7O4 spinel internal reforming layer

Cu1.3Mn1.7O4 spinel oxide has been synthesized and characterized as anode internal reforming layer for Ni-SDC anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) directly operating on methane fuel. XRD and Cu mapping image results of Cu1.3Mn1.7O4 oxide after in-situ reduction by methane show that a highly dispersed nano-Cu metal network has been obtained. By adopting Cu1.3Mn1.7O4 as an internal reforming layer, the cell demonstrated maximum power densities of 242 and 311 mW cm(-2) at 650 and 700 degrees C, respectively using methane as fuel and ambient air as oxidant More importantly, Cu1.3Mn1.7O4 internal reforming layer has significantly improved the cell performance stability. The cell with the Cu1.3Mn1.7O4 internal reforming layer has demonstrated reasonably stable performance while the cell without it degraded very rapidly. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.