Abstract
Direct carbon fuel cells (DCFCs) have recently attracted great interest because they could provide a considerably more efficient means of power generation in comparison with conventional coal-fired power plants. Among various types of DCFCs under development, a hybrid system offers the combined advantages of solid oxide and molten carbonate electrolytes; however, there is a significant technical challenge in terms of power capability. Here, we report an experimental study demonstrating how anode microstructure influences the power-generating characteristics of hybrid DCFCs. The anode microstructure (pore volume and surface area) is modified by using poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) pore-formers. Polarization studies indicate that cell performance is strongly dependent on the anode surface area rather than on the pore volume. The incorporation of PMMA-derived pores into the anode leads to improved power capability at typical operating temperatures, which is attributed to an enlarged active zone for electrochemical CO oxidation.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 11749-11755 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | International Journal of Hydrogen Energy |
| Volume | 39 |
| Issue number | 22 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2014 Jul 24 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This work was supported by the New & Renewable Energy Development Program (No. 20113020030010 ) and the Materials Technology Development Program (No. 10037312 ).
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
- Fuel Technology
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Energy Engineering and Power Technology
