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A NiMo‐ceria‐zirconia catalyst was developed for an inert‐substrate‐supported tubular single cell running on isooctane fuel. The tubular single cell consisted of an inert porous yttira‐stabilized zirconia (YSZ) supporter, Ni‐Ce0.8Sm0.2O1.9 (Ni‐SDC) anode, YSZ/SDC bilayer electrolyte and La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3−δ (LSCF) cathode. The NiMo‐ceria‐zirconia catalyst was packed in the tubular channel of the single cell as a reforming unit. With application of the catalyst in the tubular cell, the mixture of isooctane and air can be efficiently reformed to simple syngas (a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide) at 750 °C. Compared to electrochemical performance of the single cell without the catalyst, applying the catalyst increased maximum power density of the single cell from 240 to 306 mW cm−2, and the single cell exhibited significantly improved stability during the 18 h performance test. The results suggest the feasibility of applying the NiMo‐ceria‐zirconia catalyst for operating the tubular single cell using isooctane fuel. Heterogenous Catalysis in Fuel Cells: A liquid‐fuel solid oxide fuel cell has been successfully demonstrated. By applying a novel NiMo‐ceria‐zirconia reforming catalyst in the tubular cell, complex liquid fuels can be efficiently reformed into synthesis gas before electrochemical oxidation. The internal reforming unit acts as a fuel‐cleaning filter, which significantly suppresses carbon deposition and improves the cell lifetime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), nickel-yttrium-stabilized zirconia (Ni-YSZ) cermet anodes operating with complex liquid hydrocarbon fuels display severe carbon formation on the Ni surface and sulfur poisoning. In this present study, we fabricate molybdenum dioxide (MoO2)-based anodes with an optimum microporous structure that leads to a maximum power density over 3 W cm−2 at 750 °C under the direct feeding of n-dodecane fuel mixture. The cell resisted the carbon (coke) formation for over 24 h of continuous cell testing and was also resistant to deactivation with 500 ppm of sulfur in the fuel stream. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) appear to be among the most promising solutions to our looming energy challenges as the inherently high efficiency and fuel flexibility offered by SOFCs would enable us to use our dwindling fossil fuels more efficiently. Unfortunately, despite their inherent advantages, the conventional SOFCs operating at high temperatures (> 700 °C) are limited largely to stationary applications. However, low‐temperature SOFCs (LT‐SOFCs) operating at temperatures < 600 °C can offer a cost‐effective fuel cell system with rapid start‐up and shut‐down characteristics, which can expand the applications of SOFCs into the transportation sector. Especially promising is the direct operation of LT‐SOFCs with liquid fuels, which can allow direct utilization of either conventional "drop‐in" fuels that adapt the existing fuel distribution infrastructure or other liquid fuels (e.g., methanol and ethanol) produced from various biomass sources. Liquid‐fed SOFCs: The direct operation of low‐temperature solid oxide fuel cells (LT‐SOFCs) with liquid fuels is very promising, as they can allow direct utilization of either conventional "drop‐in" fuels that adapt the existing fuel distribution infrastructure or other liquid fuels (e.g., methanol and ethanol) produced from various biomass sources. To read more about this topic, please see the Reviews and original research articles in this Special Issue! [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]