Identification of a Methane Oxidation Intermediate on Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Anode Surfaces with Fourier Transform Infrared Emission.
Fuel interactions on solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) anodes are studied with in situ Fourier transform infrared emission spectroscopy (FTIRES). SOFCs are operated at 800 °C with CH4 as a representative hydrocarbon fuel. IR signatures of gas-phase oxidation products, CO2(g) and CO(g), are observed while cells are under load. A broad feature at 2295 cm(-1) is assigned to CO2 adsorbed on Ni as a CH4 oxidation intermediate during cell operation and while carbon deposits are electrochemically oxidized after CH4 operation. Electrochemical control provides confirmation of the assignment of adsorbed CO2. FTIRES has been demonstrated as a viable technique for the identification of fuel oxidation intermediates and products in working SOFCs, allowing for the elucidation of the mechanisms of fuel chemistry.
†Chemistry Division, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Avenue Southwest, Washington, District of Columbia 20375, United States.
Michael B
MB
Pomfret
‡Nova Research, Inc., 1900 Elkin Street, Suite 230, Alexandria, Virginia 22308, United States.
Daniel A
DA
Steinhurst
†Chemistry Division, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Avenue Southwest, Washington, District of Columbia 20375, United States.
Jeffrey C
JC
Owrutsky
anode; carbon dioxide; infrared emission; infrared spectroscopy; methane; solid oxide fuel cell