(522e) Development of Novel MoO2-Based Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells (SOECs) for Syngas Generation from CO2 and H2O

Directly converting CO₂ and H₂O into syngas using intermittent renewable energy provides an alternative way to address our future oil depletion and climate change problems. Such novel technology can mitigate an unpredictable nature of renewable energy as well as its storage and transportation issues by converting carbon-free electrical energy from wind and solar into chemical energy stored in hydrocarbon fuels.  In order to realize this CO₂-recycled fuel production process, one can utilize solid oxide electrolysis cells to convert CO₂ and H₂O into syngas using renewable electrical energy, which in turn can be converted to liquid fuels through a small modular Fisher-Tropsch (F-T) system.

Ni-based electrode is currently used for CO₂ and H₂O co-electrolysis process. However, the triple phase boundary, where the electrochemical reaction occurs for Ni-based electrode, is very limited which leads to a low electrochemical performance. In this study, MoO₂-based electrode was fabricated and applied to co-electrolysis. Unlike the Ni-based electrode, MoO₂-based electrode can promote the electrochemical reaction over its entire surface due to its ability to conduct both ions and electrons. Thus, it provides much higher electrochemically active surface area than that of Ni-based electrode, which should lead to its superior performance toward CO₂ and H₂O co-electrolysis. Corresponding voltage-current plots, gas outlet composition using GC/MS and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are analyzed to elucidate the reaction mechanism of CO₂ and H₂O co-electrolysis over MoO₂-based electrode.