Direct hydrocarbon utilization in microtubular solid oxide fuel cells

Abstract

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) can, in principle, directly use hydrocarbon fuels. However, nickel-stabilized zirconia anode deteriorated rapidly under direct butane utilization due to carbon deposition. The cracking rate is faster, when carbon number is larger and straight chain is longer in methane, propane, i-butane and n-butane. However, microtubular SOFCs with nickel-gadolinia doped ceria (Ni-GDC) anode can generate power continuously at 650°C over a period of 100 h in propane and butane, because the Ni-GDC has high catalytic activities of hydrocarbon reforming and carbon oxidation. The Ni-GDC is one of the desirable anodes for direct propane and butane utilization in SOFCs.