Synthesis and Multi-fueled Study of Zinc Based Anode Materials for Fuel-Cell Applications

Abstract

The increasing demand for renewable energy sources has been motivating scientists to accelerate the research activities for the production and promotion of alternate energy devices capable to deliver a high power, thermal conductivity, and sufficient energy density. The fuel cell has gained considerable attention due to its environmentally friendly nature, high efficiency, and low cost. Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is an extremely encouraging class of fuel cells. SOFC consists of anode, cathode, and electrolyte. In this work, Zinc based oxide materials synthesized by sol-gel technique and their functionalities are investigated as an anodic function of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). The proposed materials are Cu0.1Zn0.45Mn0.45O3–δ, Ni0.1Zn0.45Mn0.45O3–δ, Mo0.1Zn0.45Mn0.45O3–δ, andCe0.1Zn0.45Mn0.45O3–δ. Their investigations consist of various characterizations such as Fourier Transformation Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman Spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), DC-conductivity by four-probe methods. FTIR technique is employed to analyze the chemical composition and its bonding. The Cu0.1Zn0.45Mn0.45O3–δ show that the peaks at 667 cm-1 738 cm-1, 1121 cm-1,1331 cm-1, 1664 cm-1, and 3238 cm-1 belong to Zn-O vibrational energy bond, the vibrational bond of C-O (symmetric) of ZnO, Zn-O stretching bonds and O-H hydroxyl group, respectively. The Ni0.1Zn0.45Mn0.45O3–δ show that the peaks at 675 cm-1 762 and 1339 cm-1, 1042 cm-1, 1121 cm-1, and 3010cm-1are associate to O-H bond, C-O bond, and C-H group, respectively. The Mo0.1Zn0.45Mn0.45O3 δshow that the peaks at 667 cm-1 754 cm-1, 875 cm-1, 1323 cm-1, 1113 cm-1, and 3644 cm 1belong to Mn-O stretching bond, Zn-O vibrational energy, Zn-O bond, Zn-N bond, and O-H hydroxyl group, respectively. The Ce0.1Zn0.45Mn0.45O3–δ show that the peaks at 667 cm-1,754 cm-1,1340 cm-1associates with the Mn-O stretching, vibrational energy of Zn-O and Zn-N groups, respectively. while hydroxyl group O-H is at a peak of 1113 cm-1. Raman spectroscopy is used to detect vibrational, rotational, and other states in a molecular system, capable of probing the chemical composition of materials. The Cu0.1Zn0.45Mn0.45O3–δ Raman pattern that the peaks at 345 cm-1 belong to E2High-E2Low mode of Zn-O, at 443 cm 1peak associate to E2High mode of Zn-O, and at 612 cm-1 relate to Mn-O, at 949 cm-1 is due x to the glass substrate, and at peaks 1039 cm-1, and 1184 cm-1 linked to multi-photon scattering process. The Ni0.1Zn0.45Mn0.45O3–δ Raman pattern that the peaks observed at 335 cm-1and 425 cm-1 belong to (E2High-E2Low), E2High of Zn-O, at 691 cm-1 relate to Mn-O bond. While, the peak, at 969 cm-1 which may be due to glass substrate, and at 1085 cm-1 belong to the C-O group. The Mo0.1Zn0.45Mn0.45O3–δ Raman pattern that the peaks at 337 cm-1, 432 cm-1 belong to Zn-O mode of E2High-E2Low, and E2High, respectively. The peak at 659 cm-1 belongs to the Mn-O group. While, at 964 cm-1 peak associate to the glass substrate, but at 1164 cm-1 is C-H group. The Ce0.1Zn0.45Mn0.45O3–δ Raman pattern that the peaks at 330 cm 1,434 cm-1, and 591 cm-1, belong to E2High-E2 low, E2High, and A1Low of Zn-O modes, respectively. While, at 975 cm-1 associate to the glass substrate, and at 1117 cm-1 peak is linked to the C-H bond. The DC conductivity measure in the temperature range (400-600) oC in the methane atmosphere. The materials show the increasing behavior, with enhancing the temperature. Which shows a semiconductor nature. The Cu0.1Zn0.45Mn0.45O3–δ show maximum conductivity (29.0 S/cm) while Mo0.1Zn0.45Mn0.45O3–δ minimum conductivity (19.53 S/cm) at 600 oC, respectively. The Cu0.1Zn0.45Mn0.45O3–δ XRD pattern describes that oxide materials have composite nature consist three-phase structures, where the phase of Zn-oxide (hexagonal structure, JCPDF 75-1533) is may be in-cooperated with the phase of CuMn-oxide (monoclinic structure, JCPDF 70-0345) and Cu-oxide (tetragonal structure, JCPDF 71-0251). The average crystallites of Zn-O, CuMn-O, and Cu-O are 28.18 nm, 21.43 nm, and 22.21 nm, respectively. The XRD pattern of Ni0.1Zn0.45Mn0.45O3–δ describes that oxide materials have composite nature consist three-phase structures, the NiMn-oxide phase (Cubic structure, JCPDF 83 1186), Mn-O phase (orthorhombic structure, JCPDF 86-2337), and Zn-oxide (hexagonal structure, JCPDF 79-0208). The average crystallites of NiMn-O, Mn-O, and Zn-O are 28.39 nm, 32.88 nm, and 46.70 nm, respectively. The pattern of Mo0.1Zn0.45Mn0.45 O3–δ revealed that oxide materials have a three-phase structure; Zn-oxide (hexagonal structure, JCPDF 74-0534) is maybe in-cooperated with the phase of ZnMo-oxide (hexagonal structure, JCPDF 71-2130) and Mn-oxide (tetragonal structure, JCPDF 81-1947). The average crystallites of Zn-O, ZnMo, and Mn-O are 25.60 nm, 24.67 nm, and 21.20 nm, respectively