Search

Abstract: Ethane and electrical power are co-generated in proton ceramic fuel cell reactors having Cr2O3 nanoparticles as anode catalyst, BaCe0.8Y0.15Nd0.05O3−δ (BCYN) perovskite oxide as proton conducting ceramic electrolyte, and Pt as cathode catalyst. Cr2O3 nanoparticles are synthesized by a combustion method. BaCe0.8Y0.15Nd0.05O3−δ (BCYN) perovskite oxides are obtained using a solid state reaction. The power density increases from 51mWcm−2 to 118mWcm−2 and the ethylene yield increases from about 8% to 31% when the operating temperature of the solid oxide fuel cell reactor increases from 650°C to 750°C. The fuel cell reactor and process are stable at 700°C for at least 48h. Cr2O3 anode catalyst exhibits much better coke resistance than Pt and Ni catalysts in ethane fuel atmosphere at 700°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In situ exsolution of Co nanoparticles on perovskite framework has been successfully synthesized by firing the porous precursor SrMo 0.8 Co 0.1 Fe 0.1 O 3-δ (SMCFO) in reducing flow at 850 °C. A structure transformation (from mixed to pure cubic phase) and the growth of Co nanoparticles are observed in H 2 atmosphere. This leads to an increase in the oxygen vacancy content, which is beneficial to the electrical conduction and catalytic activity towards the oxidations of H 2 and C 2 H 6 . Moreover, this material exhibits good redox reversibility under the condition of multiple reduction and re-oxidation cycles, as confirmed by the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) measurements. A protonic fuel cell (PFC) built with this newly developed material shows a comparable electrocatalytic activity in both C 2 H 6 and H 2 atmospheres while a considerably high power density of 377 mW cm −2 is achieved in H 2 and 268 mW cm −2 in C 2 H 6 at 750 °C. In addition, C 2 H 4 yield in the cell with Co-SMCFO as anode is considerably improved (11.9%–37.8% at 650–750 °C) with respect to the widely used chromium oxide. The good electrochemical performance, the improved C 2 H 6 partial dehydrogenation ability and the negligible carbon formation in the Co-SMCFO anode are the strong indications that the SMCFO is a promising catalyst for the cogeneration of C 2 H 4 and electricity, and can also be potentially utilized in the PFC directly fueled with hydrocarbon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A site deficient La 0.2 Sr 0.7 TiO 3−δ (LST A ) and a highly proton conductive electrolyte BaCe 0.7 Zr 0.1 Y 0.2 O 3−δ (BCZY) are synthesized by using solid state reaction method. The performance of the electrolyte-supported single cell, comprised of LST A + Cr 2 O 3 + Cu//BCZY//(La 0.60 Sr 0.40 ) 0.95 Co 0.20 Fe 0.80 O 3−δ (LSCF)+BCZY, is fabricated and investigated. LST A shows remarkably high electrical performance, with a conductivity as high as 27.78 Scm −1 at 1150 °C in a 10% H 2 /N 2 reducing atmosphere. As a main anode component, it shows good catalytic activity towards the oxidation of ethane, causing the power density to considerably increase from 158.4 mW cm −2 to 320.9 mW cm −2 and the ethane conversion to significantly rise from 12.6% to 30.9%, when the temperature increases from 650 °C to 750 °C. These changes agree well with the polarization resistance which dramatically decreases from 0.346 Ωcm 2 to 0.112 Ωcm 2 . EDX measurement shows that no element diffusion exists (chemical compatibility) between anode (LST A + Cr 2 O 3 +Cu) and electrolyte (BCZY). With these properties, the pure phase LST A is evaluated as a high electro-catalytic activity anode material for ethane proton conducting solid oxide fuel cell (PC-SOFC). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]