Enhanced methane steam reforming activity and electrochemical performance of NiFe-supported solid oxide fuel cells with infiltrated Ni-TiO particles.

NiFe alloy-supported solid oxide fuel cells with NiTiO (NTO) infiltrated into the cell support from 0 to 4 wt.% are prepared and investigated for CH steam reforming activity and electrochemical performance. The infiltrated NiTiO is reduced to TiO-supported Ni particles in H at 650 °C. The reforming activity of the NiFe-support is increased by the presence of the TiO-supported Ni particles; 3 wt.% is the optimal value of the added NTO, corresponding to the highest reforming activity, resistance to carbon deposition and electrochemical performance of the cell. Fueled wet CH at 100 mL min, the cell with 3 wt.% of NTO demonstrates a peak power density of 1.20 W cm and a high limiting current density of 2.83 A cm at 650 °C. It performs steadily for 96 h at 0.4 A cm without the presence of deposited carbon in the NiFe-support and functional anode. Five polarization processes are identified by deconvoluting and data-fitting the electrochemical impedance spectra of the cells under the testing conditions; and the addition of TiO-supported Ni particles into the NiFe-support reduces the polarization resistance of the processes ascribed to CH steam reforming and gas diffusion in the NiFe-support and functional anode.