Single-chamber solid oxide fuel cells with nanocatalyst-modified anodes capable of in situ activation

Practical applications of single-chamber solid oxide fuel cells (SC-SOFCs) are partially limited by the difficulties and complications associated with the initialization process, which mainly involves the reduction of NiO to Ni in the anode. Here we propose a facile approach to the in situ activatio...

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Main Authors: Yang, G., Su, Chao, Wang, W., Ran, R., Tade, Moses, Shao, Zongping
Format: Journal Article
Published: Elsevier SA 2014
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/18552
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author Yang, G.
Su, Chao
Wang, W.
Ran, R.
Tade, Moses
Shao, Zongping
author_facet Yang, G.
Su, Chao
Wang, W.
Ran, R.
Tade, Moses
Shao, Zongping
author_sort Yang, G.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Practical applications of single-chamber solid oxide fuel cells (SC-SOFCs) are partially limited by the difficulties and complications associated with the initialization process, which mainly involves the reduction of NiO to Ni in the anode. Here we propose a facile approach to the in situ activation (initialization) of SC-SOFCs with a state-of-the-art sintered nickel-based anode using a methane–oxygen gas mixture, combined with the introduction of nanocatalysts into the anode. RuO2, CeO2 or Co3O4 with the high activity for methane oxidation are investigated for above purpose. XRD results demonstrate that the nanocatalysts are successfully introduced into the anode via a simple solution impregnation technique. Using FESEM, different nanoparticle morphologies are observed for the three catalysts. The time dependence of the cell voltage operating on the methane–oxygen gas mixture demonstrates successful activation following nanocatalyst introduction. Single cells with different nanocatalyst-modified anodes, initialized by in situ reduction, deliver high open circuit voltages of approximately 1.0 V and significant peak power outputs of approximately 1000 mW cm-2 at a furnace temperature of 650 °C. XRD and FESEM analysis indicates that only the CeO2 retains a same structure and morphology after the test. It suggests that the CeO2 nanocatalyst is the most promising for practical applications.
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publishDate 2014
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-185522017-09-13T16:01:02Z Single-chamber solid oxide fuel cells with nanocatalyst-modified anodes capable of in situ activation Yang, G. Su, Chao Wang, W. Ran, R. Tade, Moses Shao, Zongping Practical applications of single-chamber solid oxide fuel cells (SC-SOFCs) are partially limited by the difficulties and complications associated with the initialization process, which mainly involves the reduction of NiO to Ni in the anode. Here we propose a facile approach to the in situ activation (initialization) of SC-SOFCs with a state-of-the-art sintered nickel-based anode using a methane–oxygen gas mixture, combined with the introduction of nanocatalysts into the anode. RuO2, CeO2 or Co3O4 with the high activity for methane oxidation are investigated for above purpose. XRD results demonstrate that the nanocatalysts are successfully introduced into the anode via a simple solution impregnation technique. Using FESEM, different nanoparticle morphologies are observed for the three catalysts. The time dependence of the cell voltage operating on the methane–oxygen gas mixture demonstrates successful activation following nanocatalyst introduction. Single cells with different nanocatalyst-modified anodes, initialized by in situ reduction, deliver high open circuit voltages of approximately 1.0 V and significant peak power outputs of approximately 1000 mW cm-2 at a furnace temperature of 650 °C. XRD and FESEM analysis indicates that only the CeO2 retains a same structure and morphology after the test. It suggests that the CeO2 nanocatalyst is the most promising for practical applications. 2014 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/18552 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2014.04.091 Elsevier SA restricted
spellingShingle Yang, G.
Su, Chao
Wang, W.
Ran, R.
Tade, Moses
Shao, Zongping
Single-chamber solid oxide fuel cells with nanocatalyst-modified anodes capable of in situ activation
title Single-chamber solid oxide fuel cells with nanocatalyst-modified anodes capable of in situ activation
title_full Single-chamber solid oxide fuel cells with nanocatalyst-modified anodes capable of in situ activation
title_fullStr Single-chamber solid oxide fuel cells with nanocatalyst-modified anodes capable of in situ activation
title_full_unstemmed Single-chamber solid oxide fuel cells with nanocatalyst-modified anodes capable of in situ activation
title_short Single-chamber solid oxide fuel cells with nanocatalyst-modified anodes capable of in situ activation
title_sort single-chamber solid oxide fuel cells with nanocatalyst-modified anodes capable of in situ activation
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/18552