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Co‐Generation of Electric Power and Carbon Nanotubes from Dimethyl Ether (DME)
Author(s) -
Sun W.,
Zhang S.,
Liu W.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
fuel cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.485
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1615-6854
pISSN - 1615-6846
DOI - 10.1002/fuce.201300268
Subject(s) - dimethyl ether , hydrocarbon , materials science , anode , pyrolysis , carbon nanotube , chemical engineering , catalysis , electrochemistry , carbon fibers , oxide , solid oxide fuel cell , nanotechnology , electrode , chemistry , organic chemistry , composite material , metallurgy , composite number , engineering
Coking occurs easily and would significantly degrade the electrochemical performance for hydrocarbon‐fueled solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Here, we report an integrated device combining a SOFC and a stainless steel tubing as catalyst for hydrocarbon pyrolysis in the upstream of the fuel cell. Considerable carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are grown around the outside of the stainless steel tubing when dimethyl ether (DME) is fed to the device, which dramatically reduces the C:O ratio in the fuel reaching the cell anode. Correspondingly, the carbon‐removal reforming significantly prolongs the performance stability of the fuel cell compared to that directly fueled by DME. The present results suggest that hydrocarbons can be utilized more efficiently and economically by combining a SOFC and a fix‐bed reactor containing catalysts for CNTs formation, accompanying with the co‐generation of electric power and CNTs.