Nanocomposites Anode Materials for Fuel Flexible Low Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cell

Abstract

Broad efforts have been made to create multi-fuel-based low temperature solid oxide fuel cell that will directly utilize hydrocarbons to produce electric power. It is very difficult to work because of the C-H bond activation and its immensely slow oxidation reduction in the low temperature range from 300 to 600 °C. The structural and electrochemical properties of prepared anode materials Ba0.15Zn0.60Mn0.15-Ag0.10, Ba0.15Zn0.60Mn0.15 Cu0.10,Ba0.15Zn0.60Mn0.15-Fe0.10, have been investigated within the sight of hydrogen, natural gas and ethanol at a low temperature of 650 0C. Through sol gel process prepared anode materials are synthesized. The average crystallite size has been found in the range of 19-90nm by XRD. Conductivity is measured by four probe method. Maximum conductivity of 4.8 S/cm, 4.3 S/cm and 4.4 S/cm have been found by using silver, copper, and iron as a catalyst at a temperature of 600 °C, 550 °C and 580 °C respectively. The impact of prepared nanocomposite materials on the performance of solid oxide fuel cell is investigated. The power density of the cell at different fuels has been checked and measurements demonstrate it varies from 100 to 500 mW/cm2 at 650 0C among different fuels at the anode side. The present examination reveals that proposed anodes are promising multi-fuel material for low-temperature solid oxide fuel cell, and it doesn't have to change hydrocarbon fills to completely use the benefit of these cells.