Electrocatalytic enhancement of CO methanation at the metal-electrolyte interface studied by in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

10 August 2023, Version 2

Abstract

For the direct reduction of CO2 and H2O in solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) with cermet electrodes toward methane, a fundamental understanding of the role of elemental carbon as a key intermediate within the reaction pathway is of eminent interest. The present synchrotron-based in situ near-ambient-pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (NAP-XPS) study shows that alloying of Ni/yttria-stabilized-zirconia (YSZ) cermet electrodes with Cu can be used to control the electrochemical accumulation of interfacial carbon, and to optimize its reactivity toward CO2. In the presence of syngas, sufficiently high cathodic potentials induce excess methane on the studied Ni/yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ)-, NiCu/YSZ- and Pt/gadolinium doped ceria (GDC) cermet systems. The hydrogenation of carbon resulting from CO activation at the triple-phase boundary of Pt/GDC is most efficient.

Keywords

EPOC
NAP XPS
SOEC
CO
Methanation

Supplementary materials

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Title
Supporting information to the manuscript "Electrocatalytic enhancement of CO methanation at the metal-electrolyte interface studied by in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy"
Description
The supporting material includes the following sections: - XPS comparison of Ni/8-YSZ vs. Ni80Cu20/8-YSZ upon carbon accumulation - Thermodynamic promotion of CH4 formation - QMS data analysis and Cyclovoltammetry I vs. E curves - Operando XPS comparison of Ni/8-YSZ vs. Ni80Cu20/8-YSZ in CO/H2 atmosphere - SOEC cell preparation, sample mounting, equipment and XPS data analysis
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