Power generating performances of ethanol on the SOFC with Ni-ZnO-ZrO2-YSZ anode

For studying the feasibility of ethanol being used in SOFC, citric acid sol-coagulation-gel is used to prepare the Ni-ZnO-ZrO2 catalyst and Ni-ZnO-ZrO2-YSZ(Yttria-stabilized zirconia)anode is prepared by mechanical mixing. The cells of Ni-ZnO-ZrO2-YSZ/YSZ/LSM (La0.85Sr0.15MnO3) and Ni-YSZ/YSZ/LSM are made on the YSZ electrolyte by coating method. Power generation was tested and compared between both anodes using ethanol as fuel at different conditions including various temperatures of evaporator and cell, and flow rates of ethanol vapor. The surfaces of the two electrodes were characterized by SEM after test. The results showed that the performances of the cell with Ni-ZnO-ZrO2 -YSZ anode are better than those of the cell with Ni-YSZ anode, and Ni-ZnO-ZrO2-YSZ anode has a good capability in resistance to carbon formation at anode.