Effects of Metal Catalysts on Co-Electrolysis of Steam and Carbon Dioxide

Abstract

The catalytic activities of various metals (Fe, Cu, Co, Ni, and Pd) for co-electrolysis of steam and CO2 were investigated using a ceramic composite electrode composed of (La0.8Sr0.2)(Cr0.5Mn0.5)O-3 and yttria-stabilized zirconia at 1073 K. Pd showed the best performance, but Ni and Co also exhibited good catalytic activity, comparable to that of Pd, whereas the addition of Fe and Cu catalysts did not greatly affect the catalytic activity of the ceramic composite electrode because of oxidation of Fe in the co-electrolysis environment and the poor catalytic activity of Cu, respectively. In co-electrolysis, the addition of Co, Ni, and Pd as catalysts to the ceramic composite electrode made steam electrolysis easier than CO2 electrolysis, and this affected the syngas composition. (C) 2016 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.