Efficient reduction of CO2 in a solid oxide electrolyzer

Abstract

The electrolysis of CO2 has been examined in a solid oxide electrolyzer (SOE) using a ceramic electrode based on La0.8 Sr0.2 Cr0.5 Mn0.5 O3 (LSCM), infiltrated into a yttria-stabilized zirconia scaffold together with 0.5 wt % Pd supported on 5 wt % Ce0.48 Zr0.48 Y0.04 O2. An SOE with this electrode exhibited a total cell impedance of 0.36 cm2 at 1073 K for operation in CO- CO2 mixtures. An additional benefit is that the CO- CO2 electrode was shown to be redox stable, with LSCM exhibiting good conductivity in both oxidizing and reducing environments, so that the cell can operate in pure CO2.