Enhanced H2 formation by electrochemical promotion in a single chamber steam electrolysis cell

This study reports for the first time the possibility of coupling the phenomenon of electrochemical promotion and the steam electrolysis process for the simultaneous production of H2 in a single chamber solid electrolyte cell (Pt-YSZ/YSZ/Au) (working/solid electrolyte/counter). The system has been studied under methane partial oxidation, steam electrolysis and methane autothermal reforming conditions with application of different currents at 600 °C. The highest H2 production rates were achieved under the last composition (autothermal reforming) and the application of negative currents over the Pt catalyst-working electrode. Thus, under those conditions, an additional increase in the H2 production rate was observed (apart from the H2 coming from the electrocatalytic processes), which was attributed to an intrinsic NEMCA effect in the simultaneous steam reforming of methane on the same Pt catalyst-working electrode. Hence, the novel configuration used in this work could have significant importance for the production of H2 with higher efficiencies at mild temperature by integrating the non-faradic enhanced catalytic processes (NEMCA in steam reforming) and electrocatalytic processes (steam electrolysis) in a single chamber configuration.

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► A new single chamber solid electrolyte cell has been proposed for the production of H2.
► It has been studied under (CH4, H2O and O2) at mild temperature (600 °C).
► It allows to combine catalysis (NEMCA) and electrocatalysis (steam electrolysis).
► Both processes can be coupled for the production of H2 with high efficiencies.
► The NEMCA effect can be assisted by the steam electrolysis for the production of H2.