Fuel cells offer the possibility of zero-emissions electricity generation and increased energy security. We review here the current status of solid oxide (SOFC) and polymer electrolyte membrane (PEMFC) fuel cells. Such solid electrolyte systems obviate the need to contain corrosive liquids and are thus preferred by many developers over alkali, phosphoric acid or molten carbonate fuel cells. Dramatic improvements in power densities have been achieved in both SOFC and PEMFC systems through reduction of the electrolyte thickness and architectural control of the composite electrodes. Current efforts are aimed at reducing SOFC costs by lowering operating temperatures to 500–800 °C, and reducing PEMFC system complexity be developing ‘water-free’ membranes which can also be operated at temperatures slightly above 100 °C.

Fuel cell materials and components

A comprehensive review of direct carbon fuel cell technology.

Operating on Methane and Related Fuels Wei Wang,† Chao Su,‡ Yuzhou Wu, Ran Ran,† and Zongping Shao*,† †State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Technology, No. 5 Xin Mofan Road, Nanjing 210009, People’s Republic of China ‡Department of Chemical Engineering, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6845, Australia Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia

Progress in solid oxide fuel cells with nickel-based anodes operating on methane and related fuels.

Thermochemical conversion of biomass to create fuels and chemical products may be achieved through the gasification route via syngas. The resulting biomass-derived raw syngas contains the building blocks of carbon monoxide and hydrogen as well as undesired impurities, such as tars, hydrocarbons, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, hydrogen chloride, and other trace contaminants. These impurities require removal, usually through catalytic conditioning, to produce a quality syngas for end-use synthesis of liquid fuels, such as mixed alcohols and Fischer−Tropsch liquids. In the past decade, significant research attention has been focused on these catalytic processes. This contribution builds on previous reviews and focuses on capturing the work on catalytic conditioning of biomass-derived syngas that have been performed since the Dayton review in 2002, with an emphasis on tar destruction and steam reforming catalysts. This review organizes and discusses the investigations of catalytic conditioning of biomass-derived ...

Review of Catalytic Conditioning of Biomass-Derived Syngas

Interactions between metals and supports are of fundamental interest in heterogeneous catalysis. The electronic, geometric and bifunctional effects originating from Strong Metal-Support Interactions (SMSI) that are responsible for the catalyst's activity, selectivity, and stability are key factors that determine performance. Research into SMSI is fast-growing with many revolutionary systems being developed to enhance our understanding of its nature and effects. This review starts with a brief overview of heterogeneous catalysis and SMSI; then three major mechanisms involving electronic, geometric and bifunctional effects are summarized to introduce the fundamental concepts, recent progress and disagreement remained. Subsequently, advanced analytical techniques are introduced as contemporary approaches to the investigation and understanding of SMSI. In addition, the effects of SMSI on the catalytic activity, selectivity and stability of various reaction systems, such as heterogeneous catalysis and electrocatalysis are examined. Additionally, a brief review of various protocols used for the manipulation of interactions between metals and supports is given. Lastly, the future of SMSI with respect to further developments and ongoing challenging issues is addressed.

Tuning/exploiting Strong Metal-Support Interaction (SMSI) in Heterogeneous Catalysis

The internal reforming of methane on Ni/CGO and Ni/YSZ anodes was investigated with single cells operated at steam to carbon ratios from 0 to 3 and at temperatures of 800 °C and 950 °C. The incorporation of gas extraction ports allowed the measurement of the local gas composition in the anode gas compartment by gas chromatography. The methane conversion is presented as a function of feed gas composition, temperature, gas flow velocity, and electrical load. The impact of the anode material on the reforming reaction and on cell performance is shown. Methane conversion along the Ni/CGO anode was calculated with a one-dimensional model; the required kinetic parameters were obtained by data fitting.

Internal Reforming of Methane at Ni/YSZ and Ni/CGO SOFC Cermet Anodes

Gadolinium doped cerias with a gadolinium content in the range 0 ≤ x Gd ≤ 0.5 were synthesized using a glycine-nitrate combustion process. The resulting materials are weak agglomerates showing low specific surface area, no microporosity and are stable against sintering. While the addition of gadolinium enhances the surface reactivity and thus the dynamic oxygen exchange capacity (OEC), it depresses bulk reduction. As a result, the total oxygen storage capacity (OSC) is much lower compared to pure ceria. For small-scale hydrogen production using the steam-reforming process, these support properties are expected to be beneficial. The materials with an intermediate gadolinium content of x Gd ≈ 0.2 –0.25 are determined to be especially suitable for use as catalytic support material in this application.

Investigation of the structure and the redox behavior of gadolinium doped ceria to select a suitable composition for use as catalyst support in the steam reforming of natural gas

An attractive possibility to simplify a fuel cell system would be the use of a sulfur-tolerant reforming catalyst. In an effort to find such a catalyst, platinum, rhodium and ruthenium catalysts supported on ceria doped with 20% gadolinium and on pure ceria were synthesized and characterized. A temperature-programmed reduction study of the reduction behavior of the catalysts showed that the doping of ceria with gadolinium enhances the low temperature reduction, while the high temperature reduction is suppressed. The activity as well as the stability of the catalysts can be correlated with the reducibility of the materials. The most stable catalyst, rhodium supported on gadolinium doped ceria, shows promising sulfur-tolerance.

Noble metal catalysts supported on gadolinium doped ceria used for natural gas reforming in fuel cell applications

The stability of rhodium catalysts supported on gadolinium doped ceria for the steam reforming reaction is investigated. High temperature reduction of the fresh catalyst in hydrogen results in the typical symptoms of SMSI. Under steam reforming conditions, and after three subsequent reduction-reaction-oxidation cycles, the catalysts showed stable performance. Based on the results an activation procedure was developed and stable performance of over 190 h was demonstrated.

Stability of rhodium catalysts supported on gadolinium doped ceria under steam reforming conditions

For safety reasons, distributed natural gas is mixed with a strong scent known as the odorant. While typically sulfur-containing molecules are used for this purpose, a novel sulfur-free odorant (GasodorTM S-freeTM) has been developed and introduced into the marketplace. Our thermodynamic analysis and experimental results show that the reforming of methane over a Rh/Ce0.2Gd0.8O1,95-δ catalyst is unaffected by the addition of GasodorTM S-freeTM. The odorant is converted completely in the reforming step, so no negative influence is expected in the subsequent process steps. Overall, the addition of GasodorTM S-freeTM should not pose a problem when combined with fuel cell systems.

Behaviour of Sulfur‐Free Odorants in Natural Gas Fed PEM Fuel Cell Systems

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