Abstract
In this study, the effects of two fuel types, i.e., hydrogen and methane on the electrochemical performance of the co-extruded triple layer hollow fiber, were systemically studied. The triple layer hollow fiber consisted of electrolyte/active functional layer (AFL)/anode was fabricated by single-step phase-inversion-based co-extrusion technique prior to the sintering process at temperature range of 1400 to 1500 °C. The hollow fibers were characterized by three-point bending test, gas tightness test, and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The electrochemical performance test was carried out at temperatures of 700–800 °C by flowing fuel at 20 ml/min. Based on the results attained, the gas tightness and bending test are improved by the increase of sintering temperature. SEM results show that the finger-like morphology length around 100 μm is obtained. In addition, the AFL layer located in the middle layer of the hollow fiber has its own finger like which forms sandwich-like structure with the anode layer. The open circuit voltage is recorded at 1.05 V with the highest power density obtained at 0.6 W cm−2 by using hydrogen. By changing the fuel into methane gas, the highest power density is achieved at 0.8 W cm−2. This is due to the methane that carries more hydrogen molecule. This indicates that the methane fuel can be utilized in hollow fiber SOFC systems.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Chen M, Kim BH, Xu Q, Ahn BG, Huang DP (2010) Fabrication and performance of anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells via slurry spin coating. J Membrane Sci 360(1-2):461–468
Ormerod RM (2003) Solid oxide fuel cells. Chem Soc Rev 32(1):17–28
Barelli L, Ottaviano A (2014) Solid oxide fuel cell technology coupled with methane dry reforming: a viable option for high efficiency plant with reduced CO2 emissions. Energy 71:118–129
Jacobson AJ (2010) Materials for solid oxide fuel cells. Chem Mater 22(3):660–674
Othman MHD, Wu Z, Droushiotis N, Doraswami U, Kelsall G, Li K (2010) Single-step fabrication and characterisations of electrolyte/anode dual-layer hollow fibres for micro-tubular solid oxide fuel cells. J Membrane Sci 351(1-2):196–204
Mohd Hafiz Dzarfan Othman, Mukhlis A Rahman, K. Li, J. Jaafar, Hasrinah Hasbullah and A.F. Ismail (2015) Ceramic Hollow Fibre Support via a Phase Inversion-Based Extrusion/Sintering Technique for High Temperature Energy Conversion Systems, in Membrane Fabrication (Eds: N. Hilal, A.F. Ismail, C.J. Wright), CRC Press, Florida, US
Droushiotis N, Othman MHD, Doraswami U, Wu Z, Kelsall G, Li K (2009) Novel co-extruded electrolyte–anode hollow fibres for solid oxide fuel cells. Electrochem Commun 11(9):1799–1802
Grande FD, Thursfield A, Kanawka K, Droushiotis N, Doraswami U, Li K, Kelsall G, Metcalfe IS (2009) Microstructure and performance of novel Ni anode for hollow fibre solid oxide fuel cells. Solid State Ionics 180(11-13):800–804
Li T, Wu Z, Li K (2015) Co-extrusion of electrolyte/anode functional layer/anode triple-layer ceramic hollow fibres for micro-tubular solid oxide fuel cells–electrochemical performance study. J Power Sources 273:999–1005
Li T, Wu Z, Li K (2015) High-efficiency, nickel-ceramic composite anode current collector for micro-tubular solid oxide fuel cells. J Power Sources 280:446–452
Jamil SM, Othman MHD, Rahman MA, Jaafar J, Ismail AF, Li K (2015) Recent fabrication techniques for micro-tubular solid oxide fuel cell support: a review. J Eur Ceram Soc 35(1):1–22
Li T, Wu Z, Li K (2014) Single-step fabrication and characterisations of triple-layer ceramic hollow fibres for micro-tubular solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). J Membrane Sci 449:1–8
Suzuki T, Sugihara S, Yamaguchi T, Sumi H, Hamamoto K, Fujishiro Y (2011) Effect of anode functional layer on energy efficiency of solid oxide fuel cells. Electrochem Commun 13(9):959–962
Zhang X, Ye Q, Jin F, Guo F, Song Y, Zhu B (2013) A highly active anode functional layer for solid oxide fuel cells based on proton-conducting electrolyte BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.2O3−δ. J Power Sources 241:654–659
Gross MD, Vohs JM, Gorte RJ (2007) An examination of SOFC anode functional layers based on ceria in YSZ. J Electrochem Soc 154(7):B694–B699
Lee D, Myung J, Tan J, Hyun S-H, Irvine JTS, Kim J, Moon J (2017) Direct methane solid oxide fuel cells based on catalytic partial oxidation enabling complete coking tolerance of Ni-based anodes. J Power Sources 345:30–40
Yoon Y, Kim H, Lee J (2017) Enhanced catalytic behavior of Ni alloys in steam methane reforming. J Power Sources 359:450–457
Jiang SP, Chan SH (2004) A review of anode materials development in solid oxide fuel cells. J Mater Sci 39(14):4405–4439
Othman MHD, Droushiotis N, Wu Z, Kelsall G, Li K (2012) Dual-layer hollow fibres with different anode structures for micro-tubular solid oxide fuel cells. J Power Sources 205:272–280
Mohamed MH, Othman MHD, Abd Mutalib M, Rahman M, Jaafar J, Ismail AF, Mohamed Dzahir MIH (2016) Structural control of NiO–YSZ/LSCF–YSZ dual-layer hollow fiber membrane for potential syngas production. Int J Appl Ceram Tec 13(5):799–809
Tan XY, Liu YT, Li K (2005) Preparation of LSCF ceramic hollow-fiber membranes for oxygen production by a phase-inversion/sintering technique. Ind Eng Chem Res 44(1):61–66
Yang C, Li W, Zhang S, Bi L, Peng R, Chen C, Liu W (2009) Fabrication and characterization of an anode-supported hollow fiber SOFC. J Power Sources 187(1):90–92
Hatchwell C, Sammes NM, Brown IWM, Kendall K (1999) Current collectors for a novel tubular design of solid oxide fuel cell. J Power Sources 77(1):64–68
Ding J, Liu J (2008) An anode-supported solid oxide fuel cell with spray-coated yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolyte film. Solid State Ionics 179(21-26):1246–1249
Jin C, Yang CH, Chen FL (2010) Effects on microstructure of NiO-YSZ anode support fabricated by phase-inversion method. J Membrane Sci 363(1-2):250–255
Lin Y, Zhan Z, Liu J, Barnett SA (2005) Direct operation of solid oxide fuel cells with methane fuel. Solid State Ionics 176(23-24):1827–1835
Murray EP, Tsai T, Barnett SA (1999) A direct-methane fuel cell with a ceria-based anode. Nature 400(6745):649–651
He HP, Hill JM (2007) Carbon deposition on Ni/YSZ composites exposed to humidified methane. Appl Catal A-Gen 317(2):284–292
Augusto BL, Noronha FB, Fonseca FC, Tabuti FN, Colman RC, Mattos LV (2014) Nickel/gadolinium-doped ceria anode for direct ethanol solid oxide fuel cell. Int J Hydrogen Energ 39(21):11196–11209
Koh J-H, Yoo Y-S, Park J-W, Lim HC (2002) Carbon deposition and cell performance of Ni-YSZ anode support SOFC with methane fuel. Solid State Ionics 149(3-4):157–166
Gorte RJ, Vohs JM (2003) Novel SOFC anodes for the direct electrochemical oxidation of hydrocarbons. J Catal 216(1-2):477–486
Liu R, Zhao C, Li J, Zeng F, Wang S, Wen T, Wen Z (2010) A novel direct carbon fuel cell by approach of tubular solid oxide fuel cells. J Power Sources 195(2):480–482
Zhang X, Ohara S, Chen H, Fukui T (2002) Conversion of methane to syngas in a solid oxide fuel cell with Ni-SDC anode and LSGM electrolyte. Fuel 81(8):989–996
Acknowledgements
The authors would also like to thank Research Management Centre, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, for the technical support.
Funding
This work was financially supported by the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia under UTM R&D Fund (Project no. Q.J130000.7746.4J309) and Ministry of Education, Malaysia under Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE) program (Project no. R.J090301.7846.4J194).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mohamed, M.H., Othman, M.H.D., Hubadillah, S.K. et al. Comparative study on the performance of co-extruded hollow fiber solid oxide fuel cell fuelled with hydrogen and methane. J Solid State Electrochem 23, 2195–2203 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-019-04314-5
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-019-04314-5