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Chemical Engineering Science, Vol.60, No.21, 5649-5662, 2005
Methanol as a direct fuel in intermediate temperature (500-600 degrees C) solid oxide fuel cells with copper based anodes
Various Cu-based anodes have been evaluated for use in intermediate temperature (500-600 degrees C) solid oxide fuel cells operating on methanol fuel. A range of Cu-CGO cermets prepared by conventional powder/slurry routes were investigated by varying the composition, source materials and sintering temperature. These anodes were adherent to the electrolyte when reduced in H-2 but were found to be unstable during operation in dry methanol, leading to delamination of the anode from the electrolyte. CeO2 impregnated Cu electrodes were found to be resistant to delamination, act as methanol decomposition catalysts and displayed reasonable performance when running on dry methanol, with no sign of coke formation. However, these anodes undergo sintering when operating at 600 degrees C, leading to loss of methanol decomposition catalytic activity and an increase in the area specific resistance for hydrogen electrooxidation. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.