Effect of hydrogen sulfide inclusion in syngas feed on the electrocatalytic activity of LST-YDC composite anodes for high temperature SOFC applications

The performance of La0.4Sr0.6TiO3±δ-Y0.2Ce0.8O2−δ (LST-YDC) composite anodes in solid oxide fuel cells significantly improved when 0.5% H2S was present in syngas (40% H2, 60% CO) or hydrogen. However, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements at OCV showed that polarization resistance of the cell increased when the concentration of H2S exceeded 0.5%. Gas chromatographic and mass spectrometric analyses revealed that the rate of electrochemical oxidation of all fuel components improved when H2S was present in the fuel. Electrochemical stability tests performed under potentiostatic conditions showed that there was no power degradation caused by the presence of H2S in different feeds, and that there was power enhancement when 0.5% H2S was present.