Direct ethanol anode-supported solid oxide fuel cell

Abstract

An anode-supported solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) was continuously operated with direct (anhydrous) ethanol for ~600 hours, with a high current density. The operation of the SOFC under ethanol was made possible with the deposition of a ceria-based catalytic layer onto the cermet anode support, which efficiently converts the primary fuel in hydrogen. The catalytic layer associated with the gradual internal reforming (GIR) process avoids carbon deposition on the Ni surface. The results provide a significant advance towards the development of direct ethanol solid oxide fuel cells.