High Performance of SDC Composite Electrolyte Using Natural Gas as a Fuel for Low Temperature SOFC

Abstract

In this work, nanocomposite of Lithium and Samarium doped Ceria (Li-SDC) is synthesized by means of polyol process to obtain dense electrolyte material for low temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFCs) without any chelating agent. The crystalline structure of nanocomposite material is examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The fuel cell performance is obtained at temperature range 500-550 ?C. The conductivity of material was measured by 4-probe method. The prepared material morphology and microstructure analysis was studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. The best results are obtained with sample which was prepared by polyol process gives 0.016 S/cm conductivity and it shows maximum power density of 0.2 W/cm2 at 500 ?C and 0.3 W/cm2 at 550 ?C respectively using natural gas as fuel. These results prevailed that the prepared electrolyte using polyol is best for low temperature SOFC. It is also noticed that as electrolyte ionic conductivity increases the performance of cell is also enhanced.