Role of coal characteristics in the electrochemical behaviour of hybrid direct carbon fuel cells

Fuente-Cuesta, A.; Jiang, Cairong; Arenillas, A.; Irvine, John T. S.

doi:10.1039/c6ee01461e

Cited by 49 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Theoretically, the OCV of a DCFC with oxygen as oxidant is independent of temperature, and an equilibrium cell potential of 1.02 V should be expected because carbon is always in its elementary state. However, we observed slightly temperature dependence of OCVs that are much higher than 1.02 V. Similar observations were reported when carbonates were involved in carbon conversion . The molten carbonates in the electrolyte at the operating temperature were proposed to keep the low activity of electrochemical products and contribute to high OCV .…”

Section: The Ohmic (Rs) and Interfacial Polarization Resistances (Rp)supporting

confidence: 86%

“…There have been a number of studies investigating the electrochemical oxidation of carbon in carbonate melts. [16a,22] However, the mechanism is not yet fully understood. Various aspects such as the role of reverse Boudouard reaction, as well as the decomposition and carbothermic reaction of carbonates, are still under investigation .…”

Section: The Ohmic (Rs) and Interfacial Polarization Resistances (Rp)mentioning

confidence: 99%

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A High‐Performing Direct Carbon Fuel Cell with a 3D Architectured Anode Operated Below 600 °C

Zhang

Ding

et al. 2017

Advanced Materials

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Direct carbon fuel cells (DCFCs) are highly efficient power generators fueled by abundant and cheap solid carbons. However, the limited triple-phase boundaries (TPBs) in the fuel electrode, due to the lack of direct contact among carbon, electrode, and electrolyte, inhibit the performance and result in poor fuel utilization. To address the challenges of low carbon oxidation activity and low carbon utilization, a highly efficient, 3D solid-state architected anode is developed to enhance the performance of DCFCs below 600 °C. The cell with the 3D textile anode framework, Gd:CeO -Li/Na CO composite electrolyte, and Sm Sr CoO cathode demonstrates excellent performance with maximum power densities of 143, 196, and 325 mW cm at 500, 550, and 600 °C, respectively. At 500 °C, the cells can be operated steadily with a rated power density of ≈0.13 W cm at a constant current density of 0.15 A cm with a carbon utilization over 85.5%. These results, for the first time, demonstrate the feasibility of directly electrochemical oxidation of solid carbon at 500-600 °C, representing a promising strategy in developing high-performing fuel cells and other electrochemical systems via the integration of 3D architected electrodes.

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Section: The Ohmic (Rs) and Interfacial Polarization Resistances (Rp)supporting

confidence: 86%

Section: The Ohmic (Rs) and Interfacial Polarization Resistances (Rp)mentioning

confidence: 99%

A High‐Performing Direct Carbon Fuel Cell with a 3D Architectured Anode Operated Below 600 °C

Zhang

Ding

et al. 2017

Advanced Materials

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“…Different gas species, like H2 and CO, Please do not adjust margins Please do not adjust margins contribute to the increase of the OCVs by electrochemical reactions. 70 So many reactions could take place in the anode chamber, and therefore we often find that the experimental OCV values are different with the theoretical value of carbon oxidation.…”

Section: C+o2+li2o→ Lico3 (23)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The electrochemical oxidation of H2 can also be promoted by the carbonate. 70 H2 + CO3 2-→ H2O+CO2+2e -…”

Section: Hybrid Carbonate/ Solid Oxidementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Bituminous undergoes a plastic stage in the anode chamber when the cell is heated, while anthracite has not been the same (Figure 12). 70 The fluidity of the bituminous coal is a beneficial property for DCFCs operating in a batch mode as it creates more chance for the contact of coal with electrode. Extra caution should be given when using bituminous coal as a fuel in hybrid-DCFC.…”

Section: Impuritiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Challenges in developing direct carbon fuel cells

et al. 2017

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A direct carbon fuel cell (DCFC) can produce electricity with both superior electrical efficiency and fuel utilisation compared to all other types of fuel cells. Although the first DCFC prototype was proposed in 1896, there was, until the 1970s, little sustained effort to investigate further, because of technology development issues. Interest in DCFCs has recently been reinvigorated as a possible method of replacing conventional coal-fired power plants to meet the demands for lower CO emissions, and indeed for efficient utilisation of waste derived chars. In this article, recent developments in direct carbon conversion are reviewed, with the principal emphasis on the materials involved. The development of electrolytes, anodes and cathodes as well as fuel sources is examined. The activity and chemical stability of the anode materials are a critical concern addressed in the development of new materials. Redox media of molten carbonate or molten metal facilitating the transportation of ions offer promising possibilities for carbon oxidation. The suitability of different carbon fuels in various DCFC systems, in terms of crystal structure, surface properties, impurities and particle size, is also discussed. We explore the influence of a variety of parameters on the electrochemical performance of DCFCs, with regard to their open circuit voltage, power output and lifetime. The challenges faced in developing DCFCs are summarised, and potential prospects of the system are outlined.

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Dual 3D Ceramic Textile Electrodes: Fast Kinetics for Carbon Oxidation Reaction and Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Direct Carbon Fuel Cells at Reduced Temperatures

Bian

Orme

et al. 2020

Adv Funct Materials

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Direct carbon fuel cells (DCFCs) are an efficient energy-conversion technology capable of generating electricity with carbon-dioxide-capture chemistry with solid carbon as fuels. The efficiency and performance of DCFCs depend on the kinetics of the carbon oxidation reactions (COR) and the oxygen reduction reactions (ORR), each occurring at anode and cathode, respectively. The limited active sites paired with reduced temperatures greatly decrease the efficiency of the electrochemical reactions. Ultraporous dual-3D ceramic textiles (dual-3DCT) are integrated into electrolyte-supported DCFCs to enhance charge and mass transfer at the electrodes. Improved COR at the anode is achieved by the synergy between the 3DCT NiO-Ce 0.8 Gd 0.2 O 1.95 (GDC) structure and optimal carbon fuel choice. In a comparative study, DCFCs using graphitic carbon (GC) as fuel show the best COR performance when compared to DCFCs utilizing alternative fuels such as carbon black (CB) and activated carbon (AC). The 3DCT Sm 0.5 Sr 0.5 CoO 3-δ -GDC (SSC-GDC) composite cathode shows electrochemical performance superior to that of the conventional screenprinted SSC-GDC. A peak power density of 392 mW cm −2 at 600 °C is obtained in a DCFC using the 3DCT-anode/electrolyte/3DCT-cathode configuration, an unprecedented value for any reported DCFC as of yet. This points toward promising applications of dual-3DCT electrodes for reduced-temperature DCFCs.

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Role of coal characteristics in the electrochemical behaviour of hybrid direct carbon fuel cells

Cited by 49 publications

References 31 publications

A High‐Performing Direct Carbon Fuel Cell with a 3D Architectured Anode Operated Below 600 °C

A High‐Performing Direct Carbon Fuel Cell with a 3D Architectured Anode Operated Below 600 °C

Challenges in developing direct carbon fuel cells

Dual 3D Ceramic Textile Electrodes: Fast Kinetics for Carbon Oxidation Reaction and Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Direct Carbon Fuel Cells at Reduced Temperatures

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