Enabling catalysis of Ru-CeO2 for propane oxidation in low temperature solid oxide fuel cells

This paper reports on integration of a supported thin film catalyst as a reformer, consisting of nano-scale ruthenium particles well dispersed in the ceria matrix, into the anode chamber of a ceria-electrolyte solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Operation on the propane-air fuel mixture yields maximum power densities of 395 mW cm(-2), 280 mW cm(-2) and 160 mW cm(-2) at 500,450 and 400 degrees C, respectively. In comparison, the output power densities drop to 298 mW cm(-2) at 500 degrees C and <10 mW cm(-2) at 450 degrees C in the absence of the catalyst layer. The substantially enhanced performance can be explained by the high catalytic activity of the Ru-CeO2 layer for propane partial oxidation reactions, producing higher amount of hydrogen available for the fuel cell operation and thereby reducing the anodic polarization resistance. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.