Ni-based alloys as protective layer for a conventional solid oxide fuel cell fed with biofuels

A possible scenario for the future is the utilization of alternative fuels especially those obtained from renewable sources including those derived from biomass. One of the main implications is regarding the consumer's ability to use an increasingly diverse selection of energy sources. Small fuel cells systems, typically less than 10kW, are under consideration for many applications that traditional electric utilities have not supplied widely. In this area, solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) may enable new companies to enter the power-generation business as equipment providers or heat and electricity providers. The most common type of SOFC is based on Ni-YSZ as anode and operates at temperatures above 700 °C using H2 or syngas (H2 + CO) produced from a reforming process (internal or external). In this communication, we report the preparation and electrochemical characterization of catalysts having proper behaviour for utilization as protective layer for the anode.