Self-Construction of Efficient Interfaces Ensures High-Performance Direct Ammonia Protonic Ceramic Fuel Cells

Direct ammonia protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs) are highly efficient energy conversion devices since ammonia as a carbon-neutral hydrogen-rich carrier shows great potential for storage and long-distance transportation when compared with hydrogen fuel. However, traditional Ni-based anodes readily suffer from severe structural destruction and dramatic deactivation after long-time exposure to ammonia. Here a Sr2Fe1.35Mo0.45Cu0.2O6-& delta; (SFMC) anode catalytic layer (ACL) painted onto a Ni-BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.1Yb0.1O3-& delta; (BZCYYb) anode with enhanced catalytic activity and durability toward the direct utilization of ammonia is reported. A tubular Ni-BZCYYb anode-supported cells with the SFMC ACL show excellent peak power densities of 1.77 W cm-2 in wet H2 (3% H2O) and 1.02 W cm-2 in NH3 at 650 & DEG;C. A relatively stable operation of the cells is obtained at 650 & DEG;C for 200 h in ammonia fuel. Such achieved improvements in the activity and durability are attributed to the self-constructed interfaces with the phases of NiCu or/and NiFe for efficient NH3 decomposition, resulting in a strong NH3 adsorption strength of the SFMC, as confirmed by NH3 thermal conversion and NH3-temperature programmed desorption. This research offers a valuable strategy of applying an internal catalytic layer for highly active and durable ammonia PCFCs. Self-structured NiFe and NiCu-decorated interfaces on the anode surface via the attachment of the reduced Sr2Fe1.35Mo0.45Cu0.2O6-& delta; anode catalytic layer onto the Ni-BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.1Yb0.1O3-& delta; anode can dramatically enhance the catalytic activity for NH3 decomposition and durability of direct ammonia protonic ceramic fuel cells.image