Session: 08-03-01: Energy-Related Multidisciplinary I

Paper Number: 95571

95571 - Investigation of Emission Reduction and Power Generation on Electrochemical Catalytic Membranes With the Addition of Perovskite Nanocrystals 

The automotive industry has been a significant source of harmful emissions due to incomplete combustion byproducts. While electric and hybrid vehicles are gaining popularity, many manufacturers are producing vehicles that rely on hydrocarbon fuels and internal combustion engines. Three-way catalytic converters are used to reduce harmful emissions such as nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons. They use expensive precious platinum group metals (PGM) to convert emissions into complete products of combustion, such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor. PGM catalytic converters perform well only in stoichiometric conditions, rendering the catalyst unable to break down nitrogen oxide emissions in lean burning engines. While lean nitrogen oxide traps (LNTs) can be incorporated into the exhaust system to capture these emissions, they have a finite limit on the capacity of nitrogen oxide storage. Therefore, a more efficient system is needed to fully break down these emissions within lean operating conditions.

It has been found that an electrochemical catalytic membrane, known as a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), could be used as an exhaust treatment material. The SOFC consists of two dissimilar metal electrodes, known as the anode and cathode, with an electrolyte layer separating the electrodes. Prior work shows that the membrane is able to reduce nitric oxide (NO) emissions more than a typical catalytic converter. When exposed to a mixture of 90% nitrogen (N₂) and 10% NO, the membrane converts over half of the NO into combustion products. Also seen during this conversion is an electric potential oscillation developing across the membrane. Amplifying this oscillation has been shown to affect the membrane’s ability to break down NO, and an optimal voltage magnitude may exist wherein the membrane experiences a maximum NO conversion.

This work investigates the addition of cesium lead bromide (CsPbBr₃) nanocrystals into the cathode material of the SOFC. The membrane is then tested for NO reduction and power generation in comparison to an SOFC without CsPbBr₃ nanocrystals. The membrane is subjected to the same NO mixture and observed for its ability to break down the NO. A range of signals is applied to the membrane to further examine the reaction of NO across the membrane surface, and the species formed by breaking down NO. Solid oxide fuel cells are typically used for power generation by reacting hydrogen and oxygen to create electricity. Since CsPbBr₃ is a perovskite semiconductor, it could affect the reactivity of the fuel cell. Investigating the effects of adding nanocrystals into an SOFC can lead to advancements in exhaust treatment systems as well as power generation systems.

Presenting Author: Aliza Willsey Syracuse University

Presenting Author Biography: Aliza is a first-year PhD student at Syracuse University. She joined the Combustion and Energy Research Laboratory as an undergraduate at SU and has remained with the lab since, working on projects involving fuel cells, thermal transpiration, emission mitigation, and corrosion.

Authors:

Aliza Willsey Syracuse University
Kassidy Fields Syracuse University
Thomas Welles Syracuse University
Hanjie Lin Syracuse University
Weiwei Zheng Syracuse University
Jeongmin Ahn Syracuse University