C2H6 Dehydrogenation and Electrical Power Production in a Protonic Conducting Fuel Cell with in-Situ Exsolved Metal Nanoparticle Catalyst

In situ exsolution of metal nanoparticles on perovskite framework has been successfully synthesized by reducing the porous precursor SrFe0.55Ni0.2Mo0.25O3− d(SFMN) in a 5% H2/Ar at 800 °C. Such kind of exsolution not only forms a strong interface between metal nanoparticles and perovskite backbones, but also leads to an increase of oxygen vacancy content in perovskite structure, which will be beneficial to the electrical conduction and catalytic activity towards the oxidations of H2 and C2H6. The BaCe0.4Zr0.4Y0.1Yb0.1O3 − δ electrolyte-supported proton-conducting single cells have been fabricated using the exsolved metal nanoparticle/oxide fuel electrode catalyst, achieving a maximum output power density of 119.7 mW cm− 2 in H2 and 79.3 mW cm− 2 in C2H6 at 700 °C. Gas compositions using the catalyst in C2H6 have been analyzed using gas chromatography at open circle voltage, demonstrating a C2H4 yield of 1.7% at 700 °C. The promising dehydrogenation activity for C2H6 to C2H4 together with the good electrochemical performance shows this newly developed material may be a potential catalyst for the cogeneration of electrical power and ethylene.