Development of a Coking‐Resistant NiSn Anode for the Direct Methane SOFC

The present work reports on the development of a coking‐resistant NiSn‐based membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for internal CH 4 reforming in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Catalyst powder was prepared in a centrifugal casting oven by melting stoichiometric amounts of Ni and Sn under vacuum. The formation of Ni 3 Sn 2 intermetallic phase was confirmed by XRD analysis. Catalytic activity for CH 4 reforming and stability of the NiSn powder were first evaluated in a quartz glass reactor for 4 h at 600–1,000 °C. The main reaction products H 2 and CO were detected by gas chromatography while no carbon formation was detected during the experiments. Then, 3YSZ electrolyte‐supported MEAs were fabricated with a Ni 3 Sn 2 /YSZ anode and LSM/YSZ cathode and characterized under SOFC conditions. The MEA showed an excellent stability under CH 4 atmosphere (3% H 2 O) at 850 °C over more than 650 h. No substantial decrease in cell potential was observed during this period.