Internal carbon dioxide reforming by methane over Ni-YSZ-CeO2 catalyst electrode in electrochemical cell Original Research Article

The carbon dioxide reforming by methane over Ni-YSZ-CeO2 catalyst electrode in an electrochemical cell (CO2, CH4, Ni-YSZ-CeO2 | YSZ | La0.79Sr0.16Mn0.8Co0.2O3, air) under open- and short-circuit conditions was studied at 800 °C and atmospheric pressure. The microstructure of the catalyst electrode was characterized by SEM. The current–voltage test showed that the electric power generation performance of the electrochemical cell for methane and carbon dioxide was close to that for hydrogen. Under open-circuit condition, the catalyst electrode was deactivated by coke deposition. On the other hand, the catalyst electrode was stable and the selectivity of carbon monoxide was increased under short-circuit condition. The electrochemically pumped oxygen ion was reacted with the surface carbon which formed in the dry reforming on the three boundary phase (Ni/YSZ/gas) to yield carbon monoxide.