Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2026
07:13
High Temperature Fabrication of Nanostructured Yttria-Stabilized-Zirconia (YSZ) Scaffolds by In Situ Carbon Templating Xerogels
Published on: April 16, 2017
A-Site High-Entropy Perovskite Enabling Sulfur-Tolerant and Coking-Resistant Anodes for Hydrocarbon-Fueled Solid
Lei Wu1, Yue Bao2, Zhi-Hao Wang3
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, United States.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|July 15, 2026
Summary
High-entropy perovskite anodes offer enhanced tolerance to sulfur poisoning and coking in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). This novel approach improves fuel flexibility and long-term operational stability for efficient electricity generation.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Energy Conversion
Background:
- Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) offer high efficiency for electricity generation from fossil fuels.
- Current nickel-based anodes in SOFCs suffer from sulfur poisoning and coking with impure fuels.
- Need for robust anode materials tolerant to sulfur and hydrocarbons is critical for fuel flexibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel, highly active, and robust perovskite anode for SOFCs.
- To enhance tolerance to sulfur poisoning and coking using a high-entropy strategy.
- To investigate fuel flexibility and long-term stability of the developed anode material.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of a high-entropy perovskite oxide, Pr$_{0.2}$Ba$_{0.2}$La$_{0.2}$Sr$_{0.2}$Ca$_{0.2}$FeO$_{3-δ}$ (PBLSCF), with five equimolar cations at the A-site.
- In situ reduction of PBLSCF to exsolve nanoscale Fe particles for improved anode performance.
- Electrochemical testing of electrolyte-supported single cells using PBLSCF anodes with H$_{2}$ and propane fuels.
- Density functional theory (DFT) calculations to understand the mechanism of enhanced sulfur tolerance.
Main Results:
- PBLSCF anodes achieved a peak power density of 1.22 W cm$^{-2}$ at 800°C in H$_{2}$.
- Stable operation exceeding 1000 hours was demonstrated, with promising sulfur tolerance in 50 ppm H$_{2}$S-H$_{2}$.
- Stable operation for 600 hours was achieved using propane as fuel.
- DFT calculations indicated reduced oxygen-vacancy formation energy, enhancing sulfur tolerance and fuel oxidation.
Conclusions:
- A-site high-entropy engineering combined with in situ metal exsolution provides a synergistic strategy for advanced SOFC anodes.
- The developed PBLSCF perovskite anode exhibits excellent electrochemical performance, long-term stability, and multi-fuel tolerance.
- This work paves the way for fuel-flexible SOFCs with enhanced durability and performance.
