Highly Performing Chromate-Based Ceramic Anodes (YCaCrCu O) for Low-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells.

Exploitation of alternative anode materials for low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (LT-SOFCs, 350-650 °C) is technologically important but remains a major challenge. Here we report a potential ceramic anode YCaCrCu O ( x = 0, 0.05, 0.12, and 0.20) (YCC) exhibiting relatively high conductivity at low temperatures (≤650 °C) in both fuel and oxidant gas conditions. Additionally, the newly developed composition (YCC12) is structurally stable in reducing and oxidizing gas conditions, indicating its suitability for SOFC anodes. The I- V characteristics and performance of the ceramic anode infiltrated with Ni-(CeGdO)(GDC) were determined using GDC/(LaSrCoO)(LSC)-based cathode supported SOFCs. High peak power densities of ∼1.2 W/cm (2.2A/cm), 1 W/cm (2.0A/cm), and 0.6 W/cm (1.3 A/cm) were obtained at 600, 550, and 500 °C, respectively, in H/3% HO as fuel and air as oxidant. SOFCs showed excellent stability with a low degradation rate of 0.015 V kh under 0.2 A/cm. YCC-based ceramic anodes are therefore critical for the advancement of LT-SOFC technology.