Next-generation composite SOFC anodes

固体氧化物燃料电池（sofc）为将可再生的碳基生物燃料转化为电能提供了许多潜在的优势，最值得注意的是，它有机会为各种从小规模到大规模的应用提供燃料灵活的电力系统。然而，使用碳氢化合物流的sofc存在几个技术问题，其中许多问题可能与阳极的可靠性有关。为了解决阳极可靠性问题，最近的研究表明，传统的Ni金属SOFC阳极可以部分或完全被氧化物取代，从而大大提高碳基生物燃料的性能。该研究的目标是将高活性、氧化物促进的金属纳米颗粒催化剂纳入SOFC阳极，该阳极可以承受肮脏的生物燃料环境，并且可以定期再生。我们感兴趣的材料是氧化尖晶石，它在燃料流中被还原成由缺陷尖晶石支撑的金属纳米颗粒。阳极的再生需要一个氧化/还原过程，在氧化条件下，金属胶体被吸收到尖晶石中，然后被还原，从而再生催化剂。所提出的研究将发展对氧化物负载金属催化剂与混合离子/电子导电氧化物的功能和相互作用的定量理解。尖晶石中有丰富的化学成分，这将允许研究促进剂和催化金属或合金的作用，例如，Ni, Co, Cu， Mn和Ru。尖晶石还原和再生过程的表征，以及在干湿氢气或甲烷气体下离子/电子电导率的测量，将为指导复合阳极的开发提供基础信息。具有不同组成的复合阳极的单个纽扣电池的性能将允许量化复合材料的每个组成部分的影响，并提供数据来阐明SOFC应用中抗焦化的机制。更广泛的影响一个由研究生和本科生组成的学生团队将进行研究、教育和推广活动，作为一个综合的努力。作为K-12外展的一部分，学生团队将通过现有的项目，包括工程和材料科学日、工程学院的成功和车轮上的科学，为初高中学生提供生物燃料主题的实践演示。这个学生团队还将开发一个网站，重点介绍生物燃料sofc的研究工作，本科生在研究工作中的作用，并广泛讨论绿色可再生能源的文化和社会影响。该网站旨在间接支持纽约州领导和援助科学教育改革（LASER）计划，该计划提供基于研究的产品和服务，以支持K-12科学教育。

1033810MistureIntellectual MeritSolid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) offer many potential advantages for the conversion of renewable, carbon-based biofuels to electrical power, most notably the opportunity to provide fuel-flexible power systems for a variety of applications ranging from small scale to large scale. However, there are several technological issues with SOFCs that use hydrocarbon streams, many of which can be related to reliability of the anode. To address the anode reliability issue, recent work has shown that traditional Ni metal SOFC anodes can be partially or fully replaced by oxides which substantially improve performance in carbon-based biofuels.The objective of the proposed research is to incorporate high-activity, oxide-promoted metal nanoparticle catalysts into the SOFC anode that can tolerate a dirty biofuel environment and can be periodically regenerated. Materials of interest are oxide spinels, which are reduced in the fuel stream to yield metal nanoparticles supported by defect spinels. Regeneration of the anode requires an oxidation/reduction process in which the metal colloids are resorbed into the spinel under oxidizing conditions and then reduced, thus regenerating the catalyst. The proposed research will develop a quantitative understanding of the function and interplay of the oxide-supported metal catalyst with the mixed ionic/electronic conducting oxides. A rich array of chemical composition is available in the spinels, which will allow for studies on the effects of promoters and catalytic metals or alloys that include, for example, Ni, Co, Cu, Mn, and Ru. Characterization of the reduction and regeneration processes for the spinels, as well as measurements of the ionic/electronic conductivity under wet and dry hydrogen or methane gas, will provide fundamental information to guide the development of the composite anodes. Performance of single button cells with composite anodes of varying composition will allow for the quantification of the impact of each component of the composite, and provide data to elucidate the mechanisms responsible coking resistance in the SOFC application.Broader ImpactsA student team of graduate and undergraduate students will carry out research, education, and outreach activities as an integrated effort. As part of K-12 outreach, the student team will provide hands-on demonstrations on biofuels topics to middle and high school students through existing programs, including Engineering and Materials Science Day, Success in College in Engineering, and Science on Wheels. This student team will also develop a website which will highlight research efforts in biofuel SOFCs, the role of undergraduates in that research effort, and speak broadly to the cultural and social impacts of green, renewable energy. This website will be designed to indirectly support the New York State Leadership and Assistance for Science Education Reform (LASER) program, which provides research-based products and services to support K-12 science education.