Strategies for Carbon and Sulfur Tolerant Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Materials, Incorporating Lessons from Heterogeneous Catalysis

Abstract

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are a rapidly emerging energy technology for a low carbon world, providing high efficiency, potential to use carbonaceous fuels, and compatibility with carbon capture and storage. However, current state-of-the-art materials have low tolerance to sulfur, a common contaminant of many fuels, and are vulnerable to deactivation due to carbon deposition when using carbon-containing compounds. In this review, we first study the theoretical basis behind carbon and sulfur poisoning, before examining the strategies toward carbon and sulfur tolerance used so far in the SOFC literature. We then study the more extensive relevant heterogeneous catalysis literature for strategies and materials which could be incorporated into carbon and sulfur tolerant fuel cells.

Rational Design of a Water‐Storable Hierarchical Architecture Decorated with Amorphous Barium Oxide and Nickel Nanoparticles as a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Anode with Excellent Sulfur Tolerance

“…To date, extensive studies have shown that Ni is the preferred electrocatalyst for fuel electro‐oxidation in SOFCs due to its superior activity, conductivity, and thermal compatibility 15, 16. However, this catalyst must be modified to enable its direct use with fossil fuels.…”

Advances in catalytic conversion of methane and carbon dioxide to highly valuable products

“…Since a high temperature is required for methane reforming (>800°C), Boudouard reaction would not be significant . Therefore, the dissociation of methane, which may occur via four steps (CH 4 →*CH 3 →*CH 2 →*CH), constitutes the main contribution to carbon deposition in DRM . Carbon formation by CH 4 decomposition is a structure‐sensitive reaction .…”

“…Therefore, the dissociation of methane, which may occur via four steps (CH 4 →*CH 3 →*CH 2 →*CH), constitutes the main contribution to carbon deposition in DRM . Carbon formation by CH 4 decomposition is a structure‐sensitive reaction . For example, the Ni (100) and Ni (110) surfaces are more active for the decomposition of CH 4 to carbon than the Ni (111) surface.…”

“…[55][56][57][58] Carbon formation by CH 4 decomposition is a structure-sensitive reaction. 55,56 For example, the Ni (100) and Ni (110) surfaces are more active for the decomposition of CH 4 to carbon than the Ni (111) surface. Another factor affecting carbon deposition is the surface acidity of catalysts.…”

Carbon Deposition Diagnostics for Reliability and State-of-Health Assessment of SOFC

“…Depending on the reaction pathway and the form of deposited carbon, deactivation of the catalyst may occur due to blockage of macro-and micro-gas diffusion channels, growth of carbon-whiskers, strong chemisorption of carbon-monolayers or complete encapsulation of the metal particles (1). Generally, this causes rapid and irreversible degradation of the cell.…”