La0.5Sr0.5Fe0.9Mo0.1O3-δ-CeO2 Anode Catalyst for Co-Producing Electricity and Ethylene from Ethane in Proton-Conducting Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Abstract A La0.5Sr0.5Fe0.9Mo0.1O3-δ-CeO2 (LSFM-CeO2) composite was prepared by impregnating CeO2 into porous La0.5Sr0.5Fe0.9Mo0.1O3-δ perovskite and was used as an anode material for proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). The maximum power densities of the BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.2O3-δ (BZCY) electrolyte-supported single cell with LSFM-CeO2 as the anode reached 291 mW·cm-2 and 190 mW·cm-2 in hydrogen and ethane fuel at 750 °C, respectively, which are significantly higher than those of a single cell with only LSFM as the anode. Additionally, the ethylene selectivity and ethylene yield from ethane for the fuel cell at 750 °C were as high as 93.4% and 37.1%, respectively. The single cell also showed negligible degradation in performance and no carbon deposition during continuous operation for 22 h under an ethane fuel atmosphere. The improved electrochemical performance due to the impregnation of CeO2 can be a result of enhanced electronic and ionic conductivity, abundant active sites, and a broad three-phase interface in the resultant composite anode. The LSFM-CeO2 composite is believed to be a promising anode material for proton-conducting SOFCs for co-producing electricity and high-value chemicals from hydrocarbon fuels.