Massimiliano Lo Faro

Nickel–Iron/Gadolinium-Doped Ceria (CGO) Composite Electrocatalyst as a Protective Layer for a Solid-Oxide Fuel Cell Anode Fed with Biofuels

The performance and reliability of a commercial solid‐oxide fuel cell (SOFC) with the anode coated by a protective catalytic layer is demonstrated. Physico‐chemical and electrochemical characterizations of a Ni–Fe/gadolinium‐doped ceria (CGO) electrocatalyst forming the protective layer are reported. The anode layer was prepared by using a procedure that favors the interaction between Ni and Fe. Power densities approaching 0.3 W cm−2 for the SOFC cell fed with dry organic fuels were obtained. A time test was performed in the presence of a large flow rate of dry organic fuels under operating conditions (0.8 V) showing appropriate fuel flexibility for the device. The resistance to sulfur contamination was verified by feeding increasing amounts of H2S. The cell showed only moderate performance losses until 80 ppm of sulfur contaminant.

A Novel Anode Based on Ni-Modified Perovskite for Direct Alcohol Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

A Ni-modified La0.6Sr0.4Fe0.8Co0.2O3 / Ce0.9Gd0.1O2 catalyst was prepared by incipient wetness. The product thus obtained was calcined at 1100°C for 2 h in static air. After thermal activation, Ni was mainly present as highly dispersed La2NiO4 on the surface of perovskite surface. The thermal reduction at 800 °C caused the occurrence of metallic Ni on the surface. Surface area was determined by BET measurement. The catalyst was used as anode in IT-SOFCs fed with methanol. Studies under steam reforming, partial oxidation and autothermal reforming of methanol were carried out at 800°C. A comparison was made between the performance of SOFCs fed with syngas or methanol. The results with methanol are promising both in terms of energy density as well as suitable performance for portable power sources.

Preparation of PVA/ Sm(NO3)3-Sm2O3 Composites Nanofibers by Electrospinning Technique

. In this work PVA/Sm2O3 composite fibers and Sm2O3 fibers (PVA and Sm(NO3)3 were used as precursors) were prepared by using electrospinning technique. The fibers obtained were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.