The Ni/YSZ composite electrode is conventionally used for solid oxide cells, in electrolysis (SOEC) as well as fuel cell (SOFC) operation. For enhanced electrochemical performance at low temperature, mechanical durability, and impurity tolerance, alternative fuel electrode materials and cell configurations are required. In this paper we have studied a metal supported cell (MSC) with a titanate-based fuel electrode (La0.4Sr0.4Fe0.03Ni0.03Ti0.94O3, LSFNT) for its fuel cell performance using carbon containing fuel and compared to a state of the art (SoA) fuel electrode supported cell with a Ni/YSZ fuel electrode. In hydrogen fuel, the cells showed similar performance at intermediate and low temperatures (750 to 650°C), although the ASR is slightly higher for the MSC at all temperatures and steam/hydrogen ratios. Additionally, the MSC showed fair initial performance in reformate type fuel compositions (CO/steam and CO/steam/hydrogen), i.e. the fuel electrode possesses activity for the water gas shift reaction, which opens the possibility to use such cells with hydrocarbon fuels after a pre-reformer. Durability testing in pre-reformed fuel gas revealed that further fuel electrode tailoring is required to minimize cell degradation in carbon containing fuels.

The Ni/YSZ composite electrode is conventionally used for solid oxide cells, in electrolysis (SOEC) as well as fuel cell (SOFC) operation. For enhanced durability and C-tolerance, alternative fuel electrode materials are needed. In this paper, we compare the performance of two distinct Ni:CGO electrocatalyst coated A-site deficient lanthanum doped strontium titanate (La0.4Sr0.4Fe0.03Ni0.03Ti0.94O3, LSFNT) based anodes, integrated into metal supported cells (MSCs), to the SoA Ni/YSZ anode supported cell in fuel cell mode for the first time. The three cells were investigated electrochemically by impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and performance under applied current (iV-curves) at temperatures 750˚C, 700˚C, 650˚C, and at novel 620˚C in steam/hydrogen and methane/steam. Additionally, one of the MSCs was investigated in CO/steam. Furthermore, galvanostatic durability tests were conducted in 4% steam/hydrogen for the MS-cells at low temperature (650˚C) at medium-high fuel utilization (50%).

In a time, where first solid oxide based systems enter demonstration and commercial markets, the European NewSOC project focuses on next generations. It aims at significantly improving performance, durability, and cost competitiveness of solid oxide cells and stacks compared to state-of-the-art (SoA). In order to achieve these goals, NewSOC investigates twelve innovative concepts in the following areas: (i) structural optimization and innovative architectures based on SoA materials, (ii) alternative materials, which allow for overcoming inherent challenges of SoA, (iii) innovative manufacturing to reduce critical raw materials and reduction of environmental footprint at improved performance and lifetime. The NewSOC unifies competences of 16 strong research and industry players. First scientific highlights were achieved despite the challenging working conditions under the European wide Covid-19 restrictions in the first year of the project. The presentation will provide a selection of these highlights.

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