A carbon-air battery for high power generation

We report a carbon-air battery for power generation based on a solid-oxide fuel cell (SOFC) integrated with a ceramic CO₂-permeable membrane. An anode-supported tubular SOFC functioned as a carbon fuel container as well as an electrochemical device for power generation, while a high-temperature CO₂-permeable membrane composed of a CO₃^2- mixture and an O^2- conducting phase (Sm_0.2Ce_0.8O_1.9) was integrated for insitu separation of CO₂ (electrochemical product) from the anode chamber, delivering high fuel-utilization efficiency. After modifying the carbon fuel with a reverse Boudouard reaction catalyst to promote the insitu gasification of carbon to CO, an attractive peak power density of 279.3mW cm^-2 was achieved for the battery at 850 C, and a small stack composed of two batteries can be operated continuously for 200min. This work provides a novel type of electrochemical energy device that has a wide range of application potentials. Midair refueling: A carbon-air battery based on a anode-supported tubular solid-oxide fuel cell integrated with a CO₂ separation membrane (see picture) composed of a CO₃^2- mixture and an O^2- conducting phase showed both high energy density and power output. A small stack composed of two batteries can be operated continuously for 200min, which is promising for use as a portable power device.