Development and application of Ni-M catalysts (m = Cu, Fe or Mo) for the manufacture of SOFC fuel cells with anodes fed with ethanol

• Grant number: 14/04100-2
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): May 01, 2014
• Effective date (End): April 30, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry
• Cooperation agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Edson Antonio Ticianelli
• Grantee: Rafael Machado Reis
• Home Institution: Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/16930-7 - Electrocatalysis V: electrocatalytic processes of chemical and electrical energy interconversion, AP.TEM

Abstract

One of the greatest technological challenges nowadays refers to the development of new power sources. Fuel cells have emerged as one of the alternatives gaining attention in recent years due to its high efficiency and low environmental pollutants production. In particular, solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) have as main advantage to promote fuel internal reform with high energy conversion efficiency, not requiring the use of noble metals. The main challenge of SOFCs fed with biofuels is the carbon deposition on the anode, which causes poisoning and severe degradation of the SOFC performance. This project involves the preparation and physicochemical characterization of several bimetallic catalysts based on NiM (where M = Cu, Fe or Mo). The catalytic activity towards the ethanol reactions will be investigated through steam reforming experiments (RVE) in a fixed bed reactor, following the main products formed by on line liquid and gas chromatography and mass spectrometry measurements, as well as characterizing the extent of carbon deposition on the catalysts by ex situ scanning and transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy at the end of the experiments. The most promising catalysts will electrochemically studied by polarization curves and ac impedance measurements, in a SOFC unit cell test fixture directly fed with ethanol, after which the possible formation of carbon in the anode will be monitored. (AU)

Scientific publications

(4)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

LO FARO, M.; OLIVEIRA, V. L.; REIS, R. M.; SAGLIETTI, G. G. A.; ZIGNANI, S. C.; TROCINO, S.; TICIANELLI, E. A.; ARICO, A. S. Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Fed Directly with Dry Glycerol. ENERGY TECHNOLOGY, v. 7, n. 1, SI, p. 45-47, JAN 2019. Web of Science Citations: 0.

LO FARO, M.; REIS, R. M.; SAGLIETTI, G. G. A.; OLIVEIRA, V. L.; ZIGNANI, S. C.; TROCINO, S.; MAISANO, S.; TICIANELLI, E. A.; HODNIK, N.; RUIZ-ZEPEDA, F.; ARICO, A. S. Solid oxide fuel cells fed with dry ethanol: The effect of a perovskite protective anodic layer containing dispersed Ni-alloy @ FeOx core-shell nanoparticles. APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL, v. 220, p. 98-110, JAN 2018. Web of Science Citations: 15.

LO FARO, MASSIMILIANO; TROCINO, STEFANO; ZIGNANI, SABRINA CAMPAGNA; ITALIANO, CRISTINA; REIS, RAFAEL MACHADO; TICIANELLI, EDSON ANTONIO; ARICO, ANTONINO SALVATORE. Nickel-Iron/Gadolinium-Doped Ceria (CGO) Composite Electrocatalyst as a Protective Layer for a Solid-Oxide Fuel Cell Anode Fed with Biofuels. CHEMCATCHEM, v. 8, n. 3, p. 648-655, FEB 5 2016. Web of Science Citations: 3.

LO FARO, M.; REIS, R. M.; SAGLIETTI, G. G. A.; ZIGNANI, S. C.; TROCINO, S.; FRONTERA, P.; ANTONUCCI, P. L.; TICIANELLI, E. A.; ARICO, A. S. Investigation of Ni-based alloy/CGO electro-catalysts as protective layer for a solid oxide fuel cell anode fed with ethanol. Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, v. 45, n. 7, SI, p. 647-656, JUL 2015. Web of Science Citations: 15.