Investigation of alkaline metal ion-doped strontium vanadate oxide Anode for solid oxide fuel cells

The prevention of carbon deposition on anode materials is a critical factor in enhancing the efficiency of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) when utilizing hydrocarbon fuels. It has shown that SrVO₃-based ceramics exhibit significant resistance to carbon deposition and poisoning. However, the perovskite structure of SrVO₃ is unstable in air. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to investigate the integration of Na ⁺ cations into the SrVO₃ lattice structure to enhance its stability while preserving its desirable properties. The incorporation of sodium ions at concentrations between 5 and 10 % into SrVO₃ can lead to a combination of different valences within the material, promoting electron hopping and subsequently increasing conductivity. Concurrently, it has been observed that the tolerance factor decreases with an increase in sodium content. In this study, the electrical conductivity of Na_0.1Sr_0.9VO₃ was measured to be 700 Scm⁻¹ in a reducing atmosphere. An increase of more than 15 % in monovalent ions resulted in the formation of secondary phases, specifically Na_0.6V₁₂O₂₉. These findings provide valuable insights into the factors influencing the electrical properties of Na_1-xSr_xVO₃, thereby creating opportunities for its potential utilization in solid oxide fuel cells and various electrochemical devices.