Authors: Xue Song, Yuying Jiang, Xinyue Dang, Zhan Gao
Published: 2025-03-11
Source: Full article
AbstractThe development of high‐performance fuel electrodes exhibiting exceptional catalytic activity and fuel flexibility remains a critical challenge for advancing solid oxide cells (SOCs). However, current Ni‐YSZ cermet or oxide fuel electrodes suffer from either poor fuel flexibility or limited electrochemical activity. This study presents a novel strategy for creating heterogeneous interfaces through the first‐reported exsolution of mangosteen‐type FeRu nanoalloy clusters from Sr1.9Fe1.5Mo0.43Ru0.07O6‐δ (Ru‐SFM0.07‐1.9) fuel electrodes. The combination of nanoalloy clusters, oxygen vacancies, and heterogeneous interfaces significantly enhances electrochemical activity by providing more catalytic sites and reducing the activation energy for C─H bond cleavage. Concurrently, the formation of oxygen vacancies improves resistance to carbon deposition and fuel flexibility. The SOC with Ru‐SFM0.07‐1.9 fuel electrode achieves peak power densities (Pmax) of 1.79, 1.54, 1.36, and 1.13 W cm−2 under H2, naphtha, propane, and methane at 850 °C in fuel cell (FC) mode, respectively. While it exhibits current densities of 3.29 A cm−2 under 1.6 V at 850 °C with CO2 in electrolysis cell (EC) mode. These results demonstrate that the construction of heterogeneous interfaces by exsolution of nanoalloy clusters is a promising strategy to enhance both the electrochemical activity and fuel flexibility of SOCs.