Hydrogen production from methane and carbon dioxide mixture using all-solid-state electrochemical cell based on a proton-conducting membrane and redox-robust composite electrodes

Abstract

In recent years, interest in hydrogen as a fuel has sharply increased in the field of alternative and green energy due to its high energy capability and zero-emission behaviour. As a result, research in the development of new highly efficient methods for producing high-purity hydrogen is relevant. This paper presents, for the first time, the test results of an electrochemical cell with a proton-conducting La0.9Sr0.1ScO3–δ electrolyte and symmetrical Sr1.95Fe1.4Ni0.1Mo0.5O6–δ + La0.9Sr0.1Sc0.9Co0.1O3–δ electrodes as a hybrid setup for electricity generation in proton ceramic fuel cell mode, for hydrogen separation from H2 + Ar mixture and the production of high-purity hydrogen from methane with simultaneous CO2 utilization. It was found that this electrochemical cell generates high flow rates of hydrogen during its separation through a proton-conducting membrane from H2 + Ar mixture, about 500 cm3 h−1 cm−2 at a current density of 0.6 A cm−2 as well as about 370 cm3 h−1 cm−2 at a current density of 0.5 A cm−2 from CH4 + CO2 mixture at 800 °C which shows that these cells are promising for hydrogen production.