Direct-Alcohol SOFCs: Current-Voltage Characteristics and Fuel Gas Compositions

Abstract

Power generation characteristics of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) for alcohol-based fuels are measured and compared with those for simulated reformed gas in equilibrium compositions. We demonstrate direct-alcohol SOFCs for methanol, ethanol, propanol, and butanol. Current-voltage characteristics for the methanol-based fuel are comparable to those for the simulated reformed gas at 1000°C because of fast kinetics for thermal decomposition of methanol with With increasing carbon number of alcohols and/or with decreasing operational temperature of SOFCs, a decrease in cell voltage is observed associated with slower decomposition and/or reforming kinetics of alcohols. © 2004 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.