Electro-Catalytic and Fuel Cell Studies in an Internal Reforming Iso-Octane Fed SOFC Using Cu/CeO2 Composites As Anodic Electrodes

Abstract

The internal reforming of iso-octane is examined in a solid oxide fuel cell of the type Cu-CeO2/YSZ/Pt. The results show that i-C8H18 is efficiently reformed by H2O to syngas over Cu/CeO2 composites, free of carbon deposits. Apart from iso-octane reforming, the products distribution at open circuit conditions is also influenced by the associated i-C8H18 thermal cracking and catalytic decomposition reactions as well as by the reverse water gas shift and methanation reactions. At closed circuit operation, the prevailing reactions are related to the electro-oxidation of H2 and CO and the co-electrolysis of H2O and CO2, at anodic and cathodic polarization conditions, respectively. AC impedance spectroscopy studies revealed that the cell and electrode resistances are substantially decreased with increasing temperature leading consequently to higher maximum power densities (12.6 mW/cm2, 850oC). The diffusion of charged and/or neutral species at the electrode surface is possibly the rate limiting step during fuel cell operation.