Development of methanol-fueled low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells

Abstract

SUMMARYLow-temperature solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC, 300-6001C) technology fueled by methanol possessing significant importance and application in polygenerations has been developed. Thermodynamic analysis of methanol gasphase compositions and carbon formation indicates that direct operation on methanol between 450 and 6001C may result in significant carbon deposition. A water steam/methanol ratio of 1/1 can completely suppress carbon formation in the same time enrich H 2 production composition. Fuel cells were fabricated using ceria-carbonate composite electrolytes and examined at 450-6001C. The maximum power density of 603 and 431 mW cm À2 was achieved at 600 and 5001C, respectively, using water steam/methanol with the ratio of 1/1 and ambient air as fuel and oxidant. These results provide great potential for development of the direct methanol low-temperature SOFC for polygenerations.

Liquids‐to‐Power Using Low‐Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

“…[60] The direct utilization of liquid fuels, on the other hand, by internal reforming would make the LT-SOFC system, simple and cost-effective. [63] Similarly, Y. Jiang et al reported a high power density of 600 mW/cm 2 at 650°C for an SOFC (Ni-YSZ anode j YSZ electrolyte j LSM-YSZ cathode) operating on methanol as fuel. Several attempts were made to directly utilize liquid fuels for LT-SOFCs by internal reforming.…”

“…LiÀ NiÀ CuÀ ZnO anode j SDC-Li 2 CO 3 À Na 2 CO 3 electrolyte j LiÀ NiÀ CuÀ ZnO cathode [63] 600 methanol/ H 2 O 603 Steam reforming…”

Compositional and microstructural effects in composite electrolytes for fuel cells

“…These composites include one classical ceria‐based electrolyte (e.g. CGO‐gadolinia doped ceria) and one mixture of alkali metal carbonates (frequently Li and Na carbonates) as second phase 8–19.…”

Grain Size Dependent Comparison of ZnO and ZnGa2O4 Semiconductors by Impedance Spectrometry

“…Thus, ZnGa 2 O 4 structure becomes promising material in wide range optical device applications [14][15][16]. Because of it's higher band gap than that of ZnO, it is possible for ZnGa 2 O 4 to function above 300 C. Therefore, ZnGa 2 O 4 might be useful in the low temperature fuel cell electrolyte (LTFCE) materials similar to SDC (samarium doped ceria) [17]. There are also some examples for wide band gap gallete based semiconductors used in LTFCE; i.e., the study on b-Ga 2 O 3 has shown that defect formation dependent conductivity begins at around 700 K due to surface/lattice oxygen reduction in H 2 [18].…”