Ni-Cu/Ce0.9Zr0.1O2 nanocatalysts for SOFC applications

TOSCANI L.M.; M.G. ZIMICZ; LARRONDO S.A.

Alcobendas, Madrid

Simposio; International Symposium on "Catalysis for Clean Energy and Sustainable Chemistry"; 2012

INSTITUTO DE CATÁLISIS Y PETROLEOQUÍMICA - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), España

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) stand as a promising technology for clean energy supply. SOFCs can operate with different fuels, with high conversion efficiencies and low levels of emissions. Currently, available prototypes operate at temperatures of approximately 1000°C, which represents their main drawback because of the higher costs and long-term stability of construction materials [1]. Therefore, greater efforts have been made in reducing SOFCs operating temperature, leading to the development of new materials. In particular, anode material requires being an active catalyst for methane oxidation, as well as possessing an excellent ionic and electronic conductivity. Ce0.9Zr0.1O2 has proved to be, in this type of applications, an outstanding support for Ni phases, due to the cerium high reducibility and oxygen storage capacity [2-3]. In this work we present the catalytic behaviour of Ni-Cu/Ce0.9Zr0.1O2 catalysts with different Cu and Ni contents under excess methane atmospheres, as it is the prevailing condition in SOFCs anode chamber.