Direct methanol oxygen-ion conducting solid oxide fuel cell with an integrated in-situ cracking reactor

Abstract

Methanol, as an indirect hydrogen storage medium rich in hydrogen, is considered an ideal fuel for fuel cells. Oxygen-ion conducting solid oxide fuel cells (O-SOFCs) powered by methanol are renowned for their high energy conversion efficiency and minimal environmental impact, offering broad application prospects. However, challenges to their stable power generation arise from the rate of hydrogen production through methanol decomposition at the anode and carbon deposition on nickel-based anodes. To address these issues, this study explores the optimal operating temperature and concentration of methanol as an O-SOFCs fuel, while also developing a novel cell design. In this design, an in-situ cracking reactor for internal conversion of methanol is constructed by loading Ru-GDC high-efficiency nanofiber catalysts on dendritic anode microchannels, significantly enhancing the cell's power generation performance. Experimental results demonstrate that at 800°C and a 30% methanol concentration, the system increases the maximum power density (MPD) from 0.622 W cm−2 to 0.893 W cm−2, exhibiting a 43.57% increase in power density and a 13.03% improvement in methanol utilization. Additionally, the system effectively mitigates carbon deposition and nickel anode deactivation, thereby enhancing the cell's operational stability.