Clean Energy from Ethanol: Efficient Oxidation of Ethanol in Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Via a New Reformer Catalyst

The possibility of obtaining electrical energy from bio-ethanol provokes an increased interest in Direct Ethanol Fuel Cells (DEFC). Commercial platinum nano catalysts  do not facilitate a complete oxidation  of ethanol. Ternary PtRhSnO₂ catalysts  are able to  split the C-C bond and oxidize ethanol to CO₂at room temperature  [1- 2], but require further development.

In order to improve the efficiency of high-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), particularly those utilizing ethanol as a fuel (ESOFC), our recent research  focused on the catalysts that increase the power density of such  fuel cells. The systems studied  were based on nano-oxides such as SnO₂, SnO₂/Sb₂O₅, CeO₂ and TiO₂. The structural properties of such synthesized oxides were evaluated using XRD and HRTEM. These oxides were then deposited on nickel foam and used in an external reformer converting ethanol to H₂. Reformed ethanol was fed to an anode of the SOFC . The Ni/CeO₂catalyst in the external reformer, combined with SOFC,  gives the highest power density of ESOFC (Ethanol Solid Oxide Fuel Cell).

[1]  Kowal A., et al., Nature Materials , 2009, 9, 325.

[2] Adzic R, Kowal A., (Brookhaven National Laboratory), Patent  Application Publication , Pub. No. US2009/0068505  A1 (Mar. 12, 2009).