An anode for a solid oxide fuel cell

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020075979-A1
Application number	US-201716467926-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 7, 2017
Priority date	Dec 8, 2016
Publication date	Mar 5, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

The invention relates to solid oxide fuel cell anodes, in particular anodes which containing porous particles coated with catalytic nickel. The use of porous particles as a carrier for the nickel catalyst helps to overcome some of the redox stability issues experienced by some systems and improves the internal reforming properties of the system and permits less nickel to be used in SOFC systems.

First claim

1 . An anode for a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), the anode comprising:
a matrix comprising a doped metal oxide; and an electrocatalyst, wherein the electrocatalyst comprises porous particles impregnated with a steam reformation catalyst.

2 . An anode according to claim 1 , wherein the steam reformation catalyst is selected from: Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Ru, Ni, Rh, Pt, Pd, Au or a combination thereof.

3 . An anode according to claim 1 , wherein the steam reformation catalyst is nickel.

4 . An anode according to claim 1 , wherein the doped metal oxide is an electrically conducting ceramic material selected from the perovskites lanthanum strontium chromite (LSCr), lanthanum strontium chromite manganite (LSGM), and doped strontium titanates.

5 . An anode according to claim 1 , wherein the doped metal oxide is an electrically conducting ceramic material.

6 . An anode according to claim 1 , wherein the doped metal oxide is a rare-earth doped ceria, optionally selected from: gadolinium doped ceria (CGO); samarium doped ceria; or combinations thereof.

7 . An anode according to claim 1 , wherein the porous particles impregnated with the steam reformation catalyst are present in the range 5 to 70% wt. based on the weight of the total anode.

8 . An anode according to claim 1 , wherein the porous particles impregnated with the steam reformation catalyst are present in the range 10 to 60% wt. based on the weight of the total anode.

9 . An anode according to claim 1 , wherein the porous particles have pore sizes of less than 1 μm.

10 . An anode according to claim 1 , wherein the porous particles have pore sizes of greater than 1 nm.

11 . An anode according to claim 1 , wherein the porous particles have pore sizes in the range 1 nm to 500 nm.

12 . An anode according to claim 1 , wherein the porous particles are mesoporous particles.

13 . An anode according to claim 1 , wherein the porous particles are dispersed throughout the matrix.

14 . An anode according to claim 1 , wherein the porous particles comprise praseodymium doped ceria (PDC).

15 . An anode according to claim 1 , wherein the porous particles comprise a rare-earth doped ceria.

16 - 17 . (canceled)

18 . An anode according to claim 1 , wherein the matrix further comprises in the range 5%-70% wt. of a steam reformation catalyst material, optionally selected from nickel, nickel oxide, copper and copper oxide.

19 - 20 . (canceled)

21 . An anode according to claim 1 , wherein the anode is for a metal supported solid oxide fuel cell, and is provided on a metal support substrate.

22 . A composition for making an anode for a solid oxide fuel cell, the composition comprising:
a matrix precursor comprising a doped metal oxide; and an electrocatalyst, wherein the electrocatalyst comprises porous particles impregnated with a steam reformation catalyst.

23 - 25 . (canceled)

26 . A method of making an anode for a solid oxide fuel cell, comprising the steps of:
i) applying a composition according to claim 22 to a substrate; and ii) sintering the composition.

27 . A solid oxide fuel cell comprising the anode according to claim 1 .

28 - 31 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Ceres Ip Co Ltd

Inventors

• Leah Robert
• Hammer Eva-Maria
• Bone Adam

Classifications

• H01M4/8846

  Impregnation · CPC title

• H01M2008/1293

  Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes · CPC title

• H01M4/9066

  of metal-ceramic composites or mixtures, e.g. cermets · CPC title

• H01M4/8621

  containing only metallic or ceramic material, e.g. made by sintering or sputtering · CPC title

• H01M4/9025

  Oxides specially used in fuel cell operating at high temperature, e.g. SOFC · CPC title