|
1
|
Morales M, Rezayat M, García-González S, Mateo A, Jiménez-Piqué E. Ru-Ce 0.7Zr 0.3O 2-δ as an Anode Catalyst for the Internal Reforming of Dimethyl Ether in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 14:603. [PMID: 38607137 PMCID: PMC11013270 DOI: 10.3390/nano14070603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
The development of direct dimethyl ether (DME) solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) has several drawbacks, due to the low catalytic activity and carbon deposition of conventional Ni-zirconia-based anodes. In the present study, the insertion of 2.0 wt.% Ru-Ce0.7Zr0.3O2-δ (ruthenium-zirconium-doped ceria, Ru-CZO) as an anode catalyst layer (ACL) is proposed to be a promising solution. For this purpose, the CZO powder was prepared by the sol-gel synthesis method, and subsequently, nanoparticles of Ru (1.0-2.0 wt.%) were synthesized by the impregnation method and calcination. The catalyst powder was characterized by BET-specific surface area, X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy with an energy-dispersive spectroscopy detector (FESEM-EDS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. Afterward, the catalytic activity of Ru-CZO catalyst was studied using DME partial oxidation. Finally, button anode-supported SOFCs with Ru-CZO ACL were prepared, depositing Ru-CZO onto the anode support and using an annealing process. The effect of ACL on the electrochemical performance of cells was investigated under a DME and air mixture at 750 °C. The results showed a high dispersion of Ru in the CZO solid solution, which provided a complete DME conversion and high yields of H2 and CO at 750 °C. As a result, 2.0 wt.% Ru-CZO ACL enhanced the cell performance by more than 20% at 750 °C. The post-test analysis of cells with ACL proved a remarkable resistance of Ru-CZO ACL to carbon deposition compared to the reference cell, evidencing the potential application of Ru-CZO as a catalyst as well as an ACL for direct DME SOFCs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Morales
- Structural Integrity and Materials Reliability Centre (CIEFMA), Department of Materials Science and Engineering, EEBE—Campus Diagonal Besòs, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya—BarcelonaTech, C/Eduard Maristany, 16, 08019 Barcelona, Spain; (M.R.); (S.G.-G.); (A.M.); (E.J.-P.)
- Barcelona Research Center in Multiscale Science and Engineering, EEBE—Campus Diagonal Besòs, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya—BarcelonaTech, C/Eduard Maristany, 16, 08019 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mohammad Rezayat
- Structural Integrity and Materials Reliability Centre (CIEFMA), Department of Materials Science and Engineering, EEBE—Campus Diagonal Besòs, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya—BarcelonaTech, C/Eduard Maristany, 16, 08019 Barcelona, Spain; (M.R.); (S.G.-G.); (A.M.); (E.J.-P.)
- Barcelona Research Center in Multiscale Science and Engineering, EEBE—Campus Diagonal Besòs, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya—BarcelonaTech, C/Eduard Maristany, 16, 08019 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sandra García-González
- Structural Integrity and Materials Reliability Centre (CIEFMA), Department of Materials Science and Engineering, EEBE—Campus Diagonal Besòs, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya—BarcelonaTech, C/Eduard Maristany, 16, 08019 Barcelona, Spain; (M.R.); (S.G.-G.); (A.M.); (E.J.-P.)
- Barcelona Research Center in Multiscale Science and Engineering, EEBE—Campus Diagonal Besòs, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya—BarcelonaTech, C/Eduard Maristany, 16, 08019 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Mateo
- Structural Integrity and Materials Reliability Centre (CIEFMA), Department of Materials Science and Engineering, EEBE—Campus Diagonal Besòs, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya—BarcelonaTech, C/Eduard Maristany, 16, 08019 Barcelona, Spain; (M.R.); (S.G.-G.); (A.M.); (E.J.-P.)
- Barcelona Research Center in Multiscale Science and Engineering, EEBE—Campus Diagonal Besòs, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya—BarcelonaTech, C/Eduard Maristany, 16, 08019 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Emilio Jiménez-Piqué
- Structural Integrity and Materials Reliability Centre (CIEFMA), Department of Materials Science and Engineering, EEBE—Campus Diagonal Besòs, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya—BarcelonaTech, C/Eduard Maristany, 16, 08019 Barcelona, Spain; (M.R.); (S.G.-G.); (A.M.); (E.J.-P.)
- Barcelona Research Center in Multiscale Science and Engineering, EEBE—Campus Diagonal Besòs, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya—BarcelonaTech, C/Eduard Maristany, 16, 08019 Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|