Insights into Proton Conducting Solid Oxide Cell for Production of Power and Fuel

Abstract Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are the promising energy technology to generate electricity from chemical fuel, with no discharge of pollutant. Much effort has been made to enhance the performance of it, while little knowledge regarding anodic reaction of SOFCs is available, still ongoing debating1-4; the overall performance of SOFCs is the output originating from multiple kinetic steps, including surface electro-catalysis and bulk ion-electron transport. In this study, H2/D2 pulse isotopic exchange experiment is utilized to gain insight into the hydrogen oxidation mechanism in the anode of proton conducting and also oxygen conducting SOFCs, especially, H2 surface exchange reaction rate on corresponding proton and oxygen conducting electrode materials is determined.In next chapter, the possibility of a proton conducting ceramic as a support material for catalytic reaction is discussed; non-oxidative ethane dehydrogenation and CO2 methanation. This study not only shows the potential of proton conducting oxide as support for catalytic reaction, also open new reaction pathways through proton incorporation in the support material11. Furthermore, the use of a proton conducting support opens the possibility of creating electrochemical reactors systems for cogeneration of electricity and fuel12-16. Hydrogen obtained from alkane dehydrogenation would be utilized as fuel for the proton conducting solid oxide fuel cell with the product olefin generated at the cell anode. Also, hydrocarbon fuel production would be expected via CO2 methanation in the reverse mode of SOFCs, solid oxide electrolyzer cell.