Cogeneration of a synthesis gas and electricity through internal reforming of methane by carbon dioxide in a solid oxide fuel cell system

Abstract

The electrocatalytic internal reforming of CH4 by CO2 was carried out in a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system to produce a syngas and electricity. To develop a high-performance anode catalyst for the electrocatalytic internal reforming, the anode catalyst was investigated in the reforming of CH4 by CO2. It was found that the NiO-YSZ-CeO2 catalyst showed a higher activity than did the NiO-YSZ-MgO catalyst in the temperature range 650-850 degrees C. The CO2 conversion was 100 % above 800 degrees C and the yield of H-2 was 50 %. The reaction rates of CO2 and CH4 under the closed-circuit conditions were more stable than those of the open-circuit. The anode catalyst prepared with CeO2 showed particularly significant electrochemical performances. The performance of electrochemical reforming is significantly increased by improving the contact between the cell and the current collector. The open circuit voltage (OCV) over a single cell (NiO-YSZ-CeO2 \YSZ\ (La,Sr)MnO3) was 1.1 V, a power density of 54 mW/cm(2) was obtained at a current density of 100 mA/cm(2).