Coordinated optimization of methanol utilization and in-situ cracking reforming in proton-conductive solid oxide fuel cells

Proton-conductor solid oxide fuel cells (PC-SOFCs) have demonstrated innovative capabilities in energy applications, particularly for the efficient transformation of biomass fuels into hydrogen for power generation. Methanol, a readily available and economical biomass fuel with a high hydrogen content, has shown significant potential for waste utilization and energy recovery. Consequently, this study employed methanol as a fuel for PCSOFCs and investigated the optimal operating conditions through meticulously designed experiments. This study also enhanced the cell performance through the co-reforming of steam and methanol, demonstrating that the introduction of steam during the methanol-reforming process significantly improved cell efficiency. At a 30 % methanol fuel concentration and a 700 degrees C operating temperature, co-reforming increased the maximum power density (MPD) from 0.269 to 0.352 W cm-2. Additionally, integrating Ru-GDC nanofiber catalysts into the anodic dendritic microchannels enabled the creation of an in-situ catalytic cracking reactor, further boosting MPD to 0.412 W cm-2. The catalyst-equipped cell demonstrated stable operation for continuous 102 h at a current density of 0.6 A cm-2, with no performance decline, thereby confirming the exceptional long-term stability of the system.