Grant: Strategic Projects Supplemental Competition

A combination of anode catalysts and fuel cell architecture will be developed for a coal-derived syngas-air fuel cell from which there will be minimal greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions ("clean coal technology"), with reduction of CO2 emissions by up to 57% when compared to combustion technologies for power generation. The anodes will be based on our newly developed composite catalyst materials. We will optimize their activity, stability and thus the cell's power density and lifetime. These catalysts (first patent application filed in 2007), which address a long-sought need, have three primary components: a highly active V2O3 electrochemical oxidation catalyst, LaCrO3 to enhance adsorption/desorption of reactants, and a porous ion conducting oxide such as YSZ. The composite catalysts are the first to have shown high activity for conversion of impure H2 and syngas feeds, which are stable and active in feeds containing 5000 ppm H¬¬2S. The proposed research is to further optimize the composition of the catalyst, including proportions of the three primary components, and full quantification of the effects of alkaline earth promoters. We will then determine the methodology for integration of the catalysts into architectures based on proven effective and compatible electrolytes and cathode materials, such as Siemens Westinghouse technology. Based on results to date, the cell will be capable of operation using syngas or an impure H2 feed. They will produce only H2O, CO2 and S as effluent, and the dried CO2 will be sufficiently pure for sequestration and applications including enhanced oil recovery.