Improved catalytic activity under internal reforming solid oxide fuel cell over new rhodium-doped perovskite catalyst

The catalytic partial oxidation of methane is evaluated over a Rh (2–15 mol%)-doped Sr_0.92Y_0.08TiO_3-δ (SYT) perovskite-based catalyst prepared by the Pechini method for fuel-cell applications. The Rh dopant replaces titanium in the SYT catalyst, resulting in a catalyst with excellent and stable catalytic performance during thermal cycling in the temperature range 600–900 °C and in long-term stability tests at 750 °C for 130 h, without deactivation due to carbon coking or sintering. A systematic round-robin characterization is carried out by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and CO chemisorption to establish the chemical and physical properties of the catalyst. Adding Rh as a dopant in the catalyst significantly promotes the catalytic activity due to the presence of exsoluted rhodium particles on the catalyst surface. Small particles (2–5 nm) of Rh on the SYT surface are observed to be evenly dispersed, without agglomeration, and the turnover frequency (TOF) of the POM reaction increased. In the long-term stability tests, catalysts are tested in direct internal reforming at an SOFC anode, achieving high methane conversion (∼99%) in both dry and wet conditions.