Direct-methane solid oxide fuel cells with Cu1.3Mn1.7O4 spinel internal reforming layer

Cu_1.3Mn_1.7O₄ spinel oxide has been synthesized and characterized as anode internal reforming layer for Ni–SDC anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) directly operating on methane fuel. XRD and Cu mapping image results of Cu_1.3Mn_1.7O₄ oxide after in-situ reduction by methane show that a highly dispersed nano-Cu metal network has been obtained. By adopting Cu_1.3Mn_1.7O₄ as an internal reforming layer, the cell demonstrated maximum power densities of 242 and 311 mW cm^?2 at 650 and 700 °C, respectively using methane as fuel and ambient air as oxidant. More importantly, Cu_1.3Mn_1.7O₄ internal reforming layer has significantly improved the cell performance stability. The cell with the Cu_1.3Mn_1.7O₄ internal reforming layer has demonstrated reasonably stable performance while the cell without it degraded very rapidly.