Experimental investigation of direct carbon fuel cell fueled by almond shell biochar: Part I. Physico-chemical characterization of the biochar fuel and cell performance examination

摘要: Abstract A wide variety of abundant low cost carbonaceous fuels such as coal-derived coke, petroleum coke (refinery wastes) and biochar from biomass carbonization can be utilized to generate electricity in a Direct Carbon Fuel Cell (DCFC) system. In this paper, promising Intermediate–Temperature DCFC based on ceria-carbonate composite electrolyte is successfully tested at 600–750 °C using fuel issued almond shell carbonization. This bio-resource gives the best open circuit cell potential (1.07 V) 700 °C. Measurements performance indicate peak power density 127 mW cm−² for fuel, which compared favorably with 100 mW activated carbon used previous work. Obtained results show that electrochemical highly dependent their intrinsic physico-chemical properties, chemical composition, surface area, nature mineral matter content oxygen- functional groups not only edges but also interior graphite structure where degree coverage higher. The showed maintained due replenishment oxygen-containing reactive sites continuously appear edge crystal, advances.