Steam Electrolysis Coupled with CO2 Conversion in a Pressurized Proton Conducting Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell

dc.contributor.advisorPonnurangam, Sathish
dc.contributor.advisorHill, Josephine Mary
dc.contributor.authorMora, Javier Camilo
dc.contributor.committeememberJeje, Ayodeji Aderopo
dc.contributor.committeememberRoberts, Edward (Ted) PL
dc.contributor.committeememberPhillip, Egberts
dc.contributor.committeememberFarrauto, Robert
dc.date2022-06
dc.date.accessioned2022-05-19T19:58:56Z
dc.date.available2022-05-19T19:58:56Z
dc.date.issued2022-05
dc.description.abstractDevelopment of proton conducting solid oxide electrolysis cells (H-SOECs) for steam electrolysis coupled with the conversion of CO2 into fuels is a promising strategy for mitigating global warming. The aim of this research was to design and test a pressurized H-SOEC with an active Fischer-Tropsch cathode. Although no liquid hydrocarbons were produced at elevated pressures, the H-SOEC was able to synthesize CO, H2 and CH4 from steam and CO2. The electrochemical performance of this cell was modest with a maximum current density of 42 mA cm-2 (at 5 V), due to the presence of mass transfer limitations and ohmic losses. Two relevant phenomena related to application of proton conducting ceramics technology in the conversion of CO2 were analysed: the interaction between supported iron oxides and conducting substrates with oxygen vacancies, and the degradation of proton conducting perovskites in the presence of CO2. Ceramic supports containing oxygen vacancies as extrinsic defects (such as proton conducting perovskites) promote the reduction of iron oxide with activation energies lower than for the reduction of pure iron oxide. Kinetic analysis indicated that these defects not only facilitated the removal of oxygen ions, but also promoted the formation and growth of metal nuclei in 2 and 3 dimensions. Conversely, it was determined that supports with intrinsic oxygen vacancies inhibit the reduction of supported Fe2O3 due to a strong metal support interaction. Low-cerium BaCe0.1Zr0.8Y0.1O3-δ (BCZY) perovskite was not stable under CO2 at elevated pressures. Kinetic analysis revealed that the carbonation of BCZY is a single-step solid gas reaction that can be described by a first order nucleation/nuclei growth mechanism, which produces a carbonate protective layer that inhibits the deterioration of the internal crystalline structure. On the contrary, proton conducting perovskite H-SOEC with the composition Ba0.5Sr0.5Ce0.6Zr0.2Gd0.1Y0.1O3-δ (BSCZGY) showed good chemical stability under CO2 at elevated pressures. These results demonstrate the practical application of proton conducting ceramics technology in the conversion of CO2 and H2O at high pressures for the first time.en_US
dc.identifier.citationMora, J. C. (2022). Steam electrolysis coupled with CO2 conversion in a pressurized proton conducting solid oxide electrolysis cell (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/39796
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1880/114685
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisher.facultySchulich School of Engineeringen_US
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.en_US
dc.subjectProton conducting ceramics and perovskitesen_US
dc.subject.classificationEducation--Sciencesen_US
dc.subject.classificationEngineeringen_US
dc.subject.classificationEngineering--Chemicalen_US
dc.titleSteam Electrolysis Coupled with CO2 Conversion in a Pressurized Proton Conducting Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cellen_US
dc.typedoctoral thesisen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineEngineering – Chemical & Petroleumen_US
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgaryen_US
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy (PhD)en_US
ucalgary.item.requestcopytrueen_US
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
ucalgary_2022_mora_javier.pdf
Size:
7.37 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Thesis
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
2.62 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description: