Enhancing Hybrid Direct Carbon Fuel Cell anode performance using Ag2O

• Published in: Electrochimica acta Vol. 152; pp. 222 - 239
• Main Authors: Deleebeeck, L., Ippolito, D., Hansen, K. Kammer
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 10-01-2015
• Subjects: carbon black; cyclic voltammetry (CV); Direct carbon fuel cell (DCFC); electrochemical performance; silver oxide; carbon black; silver oxide; cyclic voltammetry (CV); Direct carbon fuel cell (DCFC); electrochemical performance
• ISSN: 0013-4686; 1873-3859
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2014.11.064

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•Silver-based catalysts for the anode chamber of a hybrid direct carbon fuel cell (HDCFC) investigated.•Ag2O is a good catalyst when combined with the carbon-carbonate melt at the anode.•HDCFC anode processes investigated in a single atmosphere 3-electrode half-cell geometry.•Cyclic voltammetry (CV) suggests the presence of Ni/NiO anode layer redox cycling.•Catalyzed performance increased a higher temperature and CO2 content in mixed N2-CO2 atmosphere.
A hybrid-direct carbon fuel cell (HDCFC), consisting of a molten slurry of solid carbon black and (Li-K)2CO3 added to the anode chamber of a solid oxide fuel cell, was characterized using current-potential-power density curves, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. Two types of experimental setups were employed in this study, an anode-supported full cell configuration (two electrodes, two atmospheres setup) and a 3-electrode electrolyte-supported half-cell setup (single atmosphere). Anode processes with and without catalysts were investigated as a function of temperature (700–800°C) and anode sweep gas (N2, 4–100% CO2 in N2-CO2). It was shown that the addition of silver based catalysts (Ag, Ag2O, Ag2CO3) into the carbon-carbonate slurry enhanced the performance of the HDCFC.