La0.5Sr0.5Fe0.9Mo0.1O3-δ-CeO2 anode catalyst for Co-Producing electricity and ethylene from ethane in proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cells

A La_0.5Sr_0.5Fe_0.9Mo_0.1O_3-δ-CeO₂ (LSFM-CeO₂) composite was prepared by impregnating CeO₂ into porous La_0.5Sr_0.5Fe_0.9Mo_0.1O_3-δ perovskite and was used as an anode material for proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). The maximum power densities of the BaZr_0.1Ce_0.7Y_0.2O_3-δ (BZCY) electrolyte-supported single cell with LSFM-CeO₂ as the anode reached 291 mW cm^?2 and 190 mW cm^?2 in hydrogen and ethane fuel at 750 °C, respectively, which are significantly higher than those of a single cell with only LSFM as the anode. Additionally, the ethylene selectivity and ethylene yield from ethane for the fuel cell at 750 °C were as high as 93.4% and 37.1%, respectively. The single cell also showed negligible degradation in performance and no carbon deposition during continuous operation for 22 h under an ethane fuel atmosphere. The improved electrochemical performance due to the impregnation of CeO₂ can be a result of enhanced electronic and ionic conductivity, abundant active sites, and a broad three-phase interface in the resultant composite anode. The LSFM-CeO₂ composite is believed to be a promising anode material for proton-conducting SOFCs for co-producing electricity and high-value chemicals from hydrocarbon fuels.