Spin-coated La0.8Sr0.2Ga0.8Mg0.2O3-δ Electrolyte on Infiltrated Anodes for Direct Methane Fuel Cells

Dense micrometric La0.8Sr0.2Ga0.8Mg0.2O3-δ (LSGM) films were deposited by spin-coating on porous LSGM scaffolds characterized by homogeneous pore structure. Porous anodes were infiltrated with aqueous nickel and nickel/copper nitrate solutions, dried and fired at 700°C. Homogeneous metal coating with proper interconnection was observed by SEM, chemical stability was confirmed by XRD, and electrical characterization of anodic substrates was performed. Catalytic activity of different anodes was evaluated ex-situ in a quartz micro-reactor fed with CH4:CO2 mixtureat range 650 and 700°C. To investigate the redox properties of the metallic phases, the anodic substrates were subjected to redox ageing cycles and characterized by H2-TPR

Nickel-based structured catalysts for indirect internal reforming of methane

A structured catalyst for the dry reforming of methane (DRM) was investigated as a biogas pre-reformer for indirect internal reforming solid oxide fuel cell (IIR-SOFC). For this purpose, a NiCrAl open-cell foam was chosen as support and Ni-based samarium doped ceria (Ni-SmDC) as catalyst. Ni-SmDC powder is a highly performing catalyst showing a remarkable carbon resistance due to the presence of oxygen vacancies that promote coke gasification by CO2 activation. Ni-SmDC powder was deposited on the metallic support by wash-coating method. The metallic foam, the powder, and the structured catalyst were characterized by several techniques such as: N2 adsorption-desorption technique, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), focused ion beam (FIB), temperature programmed reduction (H2-TPR), and Raman spectroscopy. Catalytic tests were performed on structured catalysts to evaluate activity, selectivity, and stability at SOFC operating conditions

Guidelines for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of osteoporosis

The guidelines for the osteoporosis management were first drafted by a working group and then critically evaluated by the board of SIOMMMS. The most relevant points are: Definition: Osteoporosis is defined as a quantitative and qualitative deterioration of bone tissue leading to increased risk of fracture. Postmenopausal and senile osteoporosis are defined as primitive. Diagnosis: The cornerstone for the diagnosis of osteoporosis is the measurement of bone mineral density (BMD) by DXA (dual-energy X-ray absortiometry) at the femoral neck with T-score values -2.5 is usually not justified. Pharmacological intervention: The use of drugs registered for the treatment of osteoporosis are recommended when the benefits overcome the risk. This is the case only when the risk of fracture is rather high. FRAX™ is recognized as a useful tool for easily estimate the long-term fracture risk. SIOMMMS with these guidelines is committed to validate and further develop this diagnostic tool

CO2-recycling for CH4 production on rare-earth modified Ni-Alumina catalysts

The chemical recycling of greenhouse gas CO2 produced in hydrocarbon combustion is an attractive alternative to CO2 storage in the underground [1]. Recently have attracted particular interest the conversion of CO2 into syn-gas by the dry reforming of methane [2] and the direct conversion of CO2 into synthetic natural gas (CH4) by the methanation reaction CO2 + 4H2 CH4 + 2H2O [3]. In addition to abating the CO2 emission, the methanation has the advantage to convert hydrogen into a more easily exploitable source of energy, as is CH4. This reaction also have the advantage being thermodinamically favoured at low temperatures (H° = −165 kJ mol−1). However the methanation is helpful for greenhouse gas mitigation only if it utilizes H2 produced by non-fossil sources. Nickel containing catalysts have been reported to be very active for this reaction []. Nickel loading, support nature and the effect of promoters have been widely investigated for the removal of CO2 and CO from H2-rich streams, but only scarcely studied for CH4 production using concentrated CO2 flow. In the present work, catalysts based on nickel supported on -Al2O3, modified by rare earth oxides CeO2 and La2O3, and by MgO were prepared by wet impregnation and tested for the production of synthetic natural gas. The catalyst metal compositions were tailored in order to improve the catalytic performances at low temperature (300-400°C) and high space velocity (75000 mL h-1 g-1). Catalysts were characterized by XRD, SEM, H2-TPR, CO2-TPD, BET in order to investigate the role of promoters on nickel dispersion and surface basicity, and tested with pure reagent CO2:H2 stechiometric flow. Some tests were performed on structured catalyst, prepared washcoating active powder on cordierite monolith, with the aim of increase the gas-solid interface and the temperature stability and reduce the pressure drop along the catalyst bed

Co and Ni supported on CeO2 as selective bimetallic catalyst for dry reforming of methane

Co/CeO2 (Co 7.5 wt.%), Ni/CeO2 (Ni 7.5 wt.%) and Co-Ni/CeO2 (Co 3.75 wt.%, Ni 3.75 wt.%) catalysts were prepared by surfactant assisted co-precipitation method. Samples were characterized by XRD, BET, TPR and tested for the dry reforming of methane CH4 + CO2  2CO + 2H2 in the temperature range 600-800 °C with a CH4:CO2:Ar 20:20:60 vol.% feed mixture and a total flow rate of 50 cm3 min-1 (GHSW = 30000 mL g-1 h-1). The bimetallic Co-Ni/CeO2 catalyst showed higher CH4 conversion in comparison with monometallic systems in the whole temperature range, being 50% at 600 °C and 97% at 800 °C. H2/CO selectivity decreased in the following order: Co-Ni/CeO2 > Ni/CeO2 > Co/CeO2. Carbon deposition on spent catalysts was analyzed by TG-DTA analysis. After 20 hours under stream at 750 °C, cobalt-containing catalysts, Co/CeO2 and Co- Ni/CeO2, showed a stable operation in presence of a deposited amorphous carbon of 6 wt.%, whereas Ni/CeO2 showed an 8% decrease of catalytic activity due to a massive presence of amorphous and graphitic carbon (25 wt.%)

Ni and Ni-Co La0.8Sr0.2Ga0.8Mg0.2O3 Infiltrated Cells in H2 and CH4/CO2 mixture

La0.8Sr0.2Ga0.8Mg0.2O3- (LSGM) based fuel cells infiltrated with different metal catalysts were fabricated and tested both in H2 and CH4/CO2 mixture. Ni, Co, Ni-Cu, Ni-Co LSGM impregnated powders were investigated for the dry reforming of methane reaction (DRM) (CH4+CO22CO+2H2). The catalytic activity for CH4 and CO2 conversion followed the order NiNi-Co>Co>Ni-Cu. Both Ni and Ni-Co catalysts, investigated versus time (50 hours) on stream of CH4/CO2=1.5 at 800°C, did not show any sign of deactivation indicating their stability toward coke deposition. Anyway, evidence of few carbon filaments were revealed by SEM micrographs and the carbon amount evaluated by TG-DTA analysis. Ni-LSGM and Ni-Co LSGM cells showed regarding electrochemical performance both in H2 and CH4/CO2 mixture in the 650-750°C temperature range

Novel composite fuel electrodce for CH4-SOFC and CO2-SOEC

The development of reversible solid oxide cells allows to use a single device to derive chemicals from power (power-to-fuel technology) and power from chemicals (fuel-to-power technology). We investigated a composite fuel electrode (60 wt.% La0.6Sr0.4Fe0.8Mn0.2O3-δ and 40 wt.% (5 wt.% Ni)-containing Ce0.58Sm0.15O2-δ) for dry methane oxidation in SOFC-mode and for CO2reduction in SOEC-mode. In reducing conditions, Fe exsolved from the LSFMn perovskite formed a Ni-Fe alloy with Ni present on SDC. When tested as SOFC anode, the composite was active towards dry methane oxidation at 800 °C and stable for over 40h; if tested as SOEC cathode, it showed remarkable activity for CO2reduction. EIS analysis was used to have a better understanding of the cell mechanisms in SOFC and SOEC mode

CO2/CH4 Reforming High Temperature Proton Conductor(HTPC) Fuel Cells

High temperature proton conductors (HTPCs) based fuel cells directly fed with methane mixtures were investigated. Doped barium zirconate was chosen as electrolyte because of its good chemical stability in CO2 and H2O containing atmosphere. The sintering temperature of doped barium zirconate was decreased down to 1350◦C by doping with 1wt.% ZnO. A co-pressing method was used for fabricating anode supported single cell. Flat and reproducible bottom cell of NiO-BZYZn / BZYZn / Pt were produced. OCV measurements, I-V curves, and impedance spectra were recorded in the 600-750◦C temperature range. The addition of carbon dioxide to methane improved SOFC stability by suppressing coking in Ni anodes

Electrochemical performance of spin coated dense BaZr0.80Y0.16Zn0.04O3-d membranes

The high sintering temperature of Yttrium doped barium zirconate (BZY), the most promising high temperature proton conductor (HTPC) for Intermediate Temperature (400e750 C) Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (IT-SOFCs), has been reduced by using ZnO as a sintering aid. Obtaining a dense electrolyte at a reduced temperature allows conventional fuel cell preparation methods. A reproducible spin coating method to fabricate highly performing anode supported button cells with dense micrometric BZYZn electrolyte layers has been developed. The electrochemical characterization of button cells at 600 C shows promising performance, higher than that of comparable fuel cells from literatur