1. The Role of Catalysis in Next Generation Direct Hydrocarbon Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Anodes
Steven McIntosh, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia
Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) are considered one of the most promising candidates for efficient future power generation. As SOFC operate via transport of oxygen anions from the air electrode (cathode) to the fuel electrode (anode), SOFC can theoretically operate on a wide range of fuels. A number of groups are researching the oxygen anion and electronic conductivity of potential oxide anode materials; we have focused on their catalytic activity for fuel oxidation. We have studied the activity and selectivity of these materials towards hydrocarbon fuel oxidation utilizing powder catalysts, and studied electrocatalytic activity in SOFC anodes. Recent work has expanded our study to proton conducting oxide materials and efforts to enhance electrode surface area through nanostructuring. The images to the left show a self-assembled polymer nanosphere structure and the resulting inverse opal electrocatalyst nanostructure utilized as a direct hydrocarbon SOFC electrode.
Left: Poly (methyl methacrylate) nanospheres utilized as structure formers for La0.75Sr0.25Cr0.5Mn0.5O3-δ inverse opal structure.