Electrocatalytic conversion of methane to syngas over Ni electrode in a solid oxide electrolyte cell

Abstract

Electrocatalytic conversion of metane in a cell with a solid oxygen conducting electrolyte: CH 4, Ni|0.9ZrO 2 + 0.1Y 2O 3|Pt + PrO 2, air was studied at the temperature range 750°C–850°C. The Ni electrode was found to be an active electrode-catalyst for partial oxidation of CH 4 to syngas with the concentration ratio [H 2] : [CO]≈2 . The CH 4 conversion and CO selectivity attained 85%–95% and 90%–95%, respectively, at 800°C–850°C. Under these conditions the Ni electrode-catalyst was stable to coking and had a negative value of electrode potential with respect to an air counter electrode. The direct partial oxidation mechanism was shown to be the most probable for the electrocatalytic conversion of CH 4 to syngas.