Y. Jiang et Av. Virkar, A high performance, anode-supported solid oxide fuel cell operating on direct alcohol, J ELCHEM SO, 148(7), 2001, pp. A706-A709
Anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells with a thin him of yttria-stabilized
zirconia (YSZ) as the electrolyte were fabricated. The cells were operated
directly on pure methanol and on an equivolume mixture of ethanol and wate
r over a range of temperatures. Power density achieved with methanol was be
tween 0.6 W/cm(2) at 650 degreesC and 1.3 W/cm(2) at 800 degreesC. and with
ethanol + water between 0.3 W/cm(2) at 650 degreesC and 0.8 W/cm(2) at 800
degreesC. Results were compared with tests on humidified hydrogen us a fue
l. No carbon deposition on the Ni-YSZ anode was observed with either methan
ol or an equivolume solution of ethanol and water as fuels. Differences in
performance with different fuels were attributed to differences in anode po
larization. (C) 2001 The Electrochemical Society.