Catalytic materials for Methane Dry Reforming reaction in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells.

Abstract

The research activity was focused on developing active and stable catalysts for Methane Dry Reforming (MDR) reaction, to be used as reforming layers on the anode of a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell. The catalysts tested are divided in two categories. The first are perovskites based on lanthanum, cerium, nickel and iron. The second category is the supported ones, composed by nickel on ceria and alumina, where the introduction of different dopants (vanadium, cerium and calcium) was evaluated. The type of solid and the synergy between these metals should ensure good activity and help prevent the main problem of reaction, namely the deposition of carbon coke on nickel surface, which leads to a deactivation of the material. The catalysts are synthesized with different methodologies, such as sol-gel, co-precipitation, and incipient wetness impregnation, and then tested for MDR reaction. The best catalyst identified was deposited on the cell anode and will be tested with the same reaction parameters, at the Engineering Department of Perugia University. The structural features of the catalysts are analyzed with techniques such as Temperature Programmed Reduction (TPR), N2 physisorption, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersed X-Ray analysis (EDX) and Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP). Temperature Programmed Oxidation (TPO) and SEM-EDX are done on the discharged samples too, to identify the type and amount of coke formed on catalyst surface after reaction.