Nickel-Copper/Gadolinium-Doped Ceria (CGO) Composite Electrocatalyst as a Protective Layer for a Solid-Oxide Fuel Cell Anode Fed with Ethanol

A nickel-copper alloy is prepared by using the oxalate method and subsequent in situ reduction. The bimetallic alloy is mixed with gadolinium-doped ceria (CGO) to obtain a composite material with mixed electronic-ionic conductivity. The catalytic and electrocatalytic properties of the composite material for ethanol conversion are described. Different conditions to simulate bio-ethanol feed operation are selected. Electrochemical tests are performed by utilizing the Ni-Cu/CGO cermet as a barrier layer in a conventional anode-supported solid-oxide fuel cell (AS-SOFC). A comparative study between the modified cell and a conventional AS-SOFC without the protective layer is made. A maximum power density of 277 mW cm(-2)@0.63 V is recorded in the presence of a mixture of ethanol-water for a cell containing the protective anodic layer compared with 231 mW cm(-2)@0.64 V for a bare cell under the same conditions. This corresponds to a 20% increase in performance.