Green syngas production with metal-supported solid oxide cells

Abstract

The Solid Oxide Electrolyser (SOE) technology may play an essential role in converting H₂O and CO₂ into green syngas, essential to developing carbon-neutral fuels. Metal-Supported Cells (MSCs) have generated large interest thanks to their cost-effective materials and superior mechanical properties. MSCs with fuel electrodes based on porous Ni-free electrode backbones infiltrated with Ni/GDC (Gadolinium Doped Ceria) electro-catalysts have been developed at DTU Energy. These types of MSC showed excellent behaviour in steam electrolysis mode. The reduced nickel content, together with the infiltrated GDC, is a promising argument that these kinds of fuel electrodes are less prone to carbon-related reactions (such as methanation and carbon deposition) compared to the conventional Ni/YSZ fuel electrode supported cells, making them suitable as a robust cathode in co-electrolysis for syngas production. This study evaluates for the first time the operation of MSCs in co-electrolysis mode, specifically the initial performances and the durability of two types of metal-supported cells at 650 °C, while comparing them to a commercial state-of-the-art ceramic cell with Ni/YSZ fuel electrode. The tests showed promising results, with the MSCs exhibiting similar or lower degradation if compared to the commercial cell.