Anodic Performance of La0.5Sr0.5Mn0.9Al0.1O3 Perovskite Oxide for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells using Dry C3H8 Fuel

Direct hydrocarbon type solid oxide fuel cells are attractive for simple gas feed process and also high energy conversion efficiency. In this study, La0.5Sr0.5MnO3 (LSM55) perovskite oxide was studied as oxide anode for direct hydrocarbon type SOFC. Although reasonable power density like 1W/cm(2) and open circuit potential (1.1V) at 1273 K was exhibited when H-2 was used as fuel, the power density as well as open circuit potential of the cell using LSM55 for anode was significantly decreased when dry C3H8 was used for fuel. After power generation measurement, LSM55 phase decomposed to MnO and La2MnO4. Effects of various dopants to Mn site in LSM55 were studied and it was found that partial substitution of Mn in LSM55 with other cation, especially transition metal, is effective for increasing maximum power density. In particular, reasonable high power density can be achieved on the cell using Ni doped LSM55 for anode.