Steam electrolysis with simultaneous production of C-2 hydrocarbons in a solid electrolyte cell

The production of hydrogen from steam electrolysis with simultaneous conversion of methane to C-2 hydrocarbons was investigated. The reaction system was studied in a solid state oxygen ion (O2-) conducting cell at temperatures between 700 degrees C and 840 degrees C. Methane and steam, diluted in nitrogen, were introduced over the anode (Ag) and the cathode (Pt), respectively. When oxygen was electrochemically "pumped" from the cathode to the anode, steam was electrolyzed to produce gaseous H-2 and CH4 was converted to C2H4, C2H6 and CO2. The conversion of methane and the C-2 yield increased when a perovskite of the form SrZr0.95Y0 O-05(3-a) (SZY) was placed on the anodic electrode to serve as a methane coupling catalyst. At the anode, C-2 yields exceeding 7.6% were obtained, while an up to 65% H-2 yield was achieved at the cathode. Copyright (C) 2013, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.