Issue 40, 2014

Hydrocarbon-fueled solid oxide fuel cells with surface-modified, hydroxylated Sn/Ni–Ce0.8Gd0.2O1.9 heterogeneous catalyst anode

Abstract

Ni-catalyst-based anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) operating with H2 fuel are highly efficient, low-emission, electrochemical energy conversion devices. However, the economical production of hydrogen is a challenge, and there is immense interest to use hydrocarbon fuels directly with SOFC. Unfortunately, the solid-carbon generated continuously by hydrocarbon cracking accumulates on the Ni-metal surface and leads to rapid decline in performance. We show here that 1 atom% Sn (with respect to Ni) incorporated onto a surface-modified Ni–Ce0.8Gd0.2O1.9 (GDC) cermet anode with extended three-phase boundaries, where O2− ions, electrons, and fuels get together, acts as an excellent decoking agent. The hydrophilic Sn doped on the surface of Ni is hydrated and hydroxylated by reacting with the water vapour produced by the electrochemical oxidation of the fuel, and the hydroxyl groups aid the oxidation of neighbouring carbon and drive off as CO2. Moreover, the enlarged three-phase boundaries of the anode allow O2− ions to rapidly reach the deposited carbon as well as the hydrocarbon gas and electrochemically oxidize them. With this modified Sn/Ni–GDC catalyst anode, GDC electrolyte, and La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3−δ cathode, more than 200 h of operation with a methane-fueled SOFC is demonstrated here.

Graphical abstract: Hydrocarbon-fueled solid oxide fuel cells with surface-modified, hydroxylated Sn/Ni–Ce0.8Gd0.2O1.9 heterogeneous catalyst anode

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
27 May 2014
Accepted
20 Aug 2014
First published
21 Aug 2014

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2014,2, 17041-17046

Hydrocarbon-fueled solid oxide fuel cells with surface-modified, hydroxylated Sn/Ni–Ce0.8Gd0.2O1.9 heterogeneous catalyst anode

D. Yoon and A. Manthiram, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2014, 2, 17041 DOI: 10.1039/C4TA02662D

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements