P2X: Coking-resistant catalysts for high-temperature co-electrolysis of H2O and CO2 to syngas

The aim of the Kopernikus  project „P2X“  is to support Germanys “Energiewende” program in which energy supply from renewable sources should amounts 35% by 2020 and 80% by 2050. Especially during sunny and windy periods, excess of renewable energy production may destabilize the grid. Instead of disconnecting a certain amount of solar farms and wind mills, excess energy can be transformed meaningfully into synthesis gas, chemicals and fuels. This ambitious challenge, however, requires innovative and flexible technological concepts that will be evaluated within the P2X project. One of these concepts aims at the development of high-temperature H₂O/CO₂ co-electrolysis to H₂/CO (synthesis gas) that serves as feedstock for production of e.g. methanol, gasoline and diesel via Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. The main tasks of DFI consist on developing cooking-resistant catalysts for the solid-oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) cathode and evaluating their catalytic and electrochemical activity for different H₂O:CO₂ molar ratios at 850°C . The influence of feed composition and reaction parameters on carbon formation will be studied as well.

Figure 1: (Left) Principle of the H₂O/CO₂ co-electrolysis. (Right) Selection of possible end products depending on H₂:CO ratio.