Fuel processing is one of the essential parts for development of intermediate solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFC). Natural gas (methane) is considered as the most abundant and cost effective fuel for the production of hydrogen for IT-SOFC. The primary aim of this thesis is to use a novel precursor material—layered double hydroxide (LDH) – for developing a new type of cost effective, highly active and long lasting catalyst which can reform natural gas in IT-SOFC anode environment. Small amount of noble metals Pd, Rh and Pt are used as promoters to enhance the catalyst’s performance as while maintaining the cost relatively low. The research objectives are achieved by a series of studies including catalysts synthesis, characterisation and the catalytic activities. The thesis initially gives a comprehensive review on fuel cell and SOFC technology, steam methane reforming and reforming catalyst to provide better understanding of the research. Experimental studies include the effects of the synthetic conditions of the LDH precursors and thermal treatments on the physical, chemical behaviours and catalytic activities of the catalysts and promotional effects by noble metals. The LDH derived catalysts compositions, promoter quantities and operating conditions are optimised for the best performance in the IT-SOFC anode environment. A new method for the development of precursor sol for easy coating of the anode is developed and studied. The sol preparation is achieved by acid attack. The sol developed is found to produce better coating and has very high catalytic properties after activation. The catalysts developed were tested for their stability and self-activation ability to ensure its use in the commercial cells. The findings of the present study indicate that the catalysts developed show excellent catalytic performance and these catalysts have very high potential for further commercialisation in IT-SOFC.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:588422 |
| Date | January 2013 |
| Creators | Di, Jiexun |
| Contributors | Bhattacharya, Ashok; Hankins, Nicholas Peter |
| Publisher | University of Oxford |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:a36ce531-e7b2-48fb-a59b-dbca6b435643 |
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