Research paperCogeneration of ethylene and energy in protonic fuel cell with an efficient and stable anode anchored with in-situ exsolved functional metal nanoparticles

- In situ exsolution of Co nanoparticles on perovskite framework has been successfully synthesized by firing the porous precursor SrMo0.8Co0.1Fe0.1O3-δ (SMCFO) in reducing flow at 850 °C.
- A structure transformation (from mixed to pure cubic phase) was observed in H2 atmosphere.
- This material exhibits good redox reversibility under the condition of multiple reduction and re-oxidation cycles.
- A protonic fuel cell (PFC) built with this newly developed material achieves a considerably high power density of 377 mW cm−2 in H2 and 268 mW cm−2 in ethane at 750 °C.
- The ethylene yield in the cell with Co-SMCFO as anode is considerably improved (11.9%-37.8% at 650-750 °C) when compared with the widely used chromium oxide.

In situ exsolution of Co nanoparticles on perovskite framework has been successfully synthesized by firing the porous precursor SrMo0.8Co0.1Fe0.1O3-δ (SMCFO) in reducing flow at 850 °C. A structure transformation (from mixed to pure cubic phase) and the growth of Co nanoparticles are observed in H2 atmosphere. This leads to an increase in the oxygen vacancy content, which is beneficial to the electrical conduction and catalytic activity towards the oxidations of H2 and C2H6. Moreover, this material exhibits good redox reversibility under the condition of multiple reduction and re-oxidation cycles, as confirmed by the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) measurements. A protonic fuel cell (PFC) built with this newly developed material shows a comparable electrocatalytic activity in both C2H6 and H2 atmospheres while a considerably high power density of 377 mW cm−2 is achieved in H2 and 268 mW cm−2 in C2H6 at 750 °C. In addition, C2H4 yield in the cell with Co-SMCFO as anode is considerably improved (11.9%-37.8% at 650-750 °C) with respect to the widely used chromium oxide. The good electrochemical performance, the improved C2H6 partial dehydrogenation ability and the negligible carbon formation in the Co-SMCFO anode are the strong indications that the SMCFO is a promising catalyst for the cogeneration of C2H4 and electricity, and can also be potentially utilized in the PFC directly fueled with hydrocarbon.

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