ABSTRACT
To facilitate direct carbon fuel cell (DCFC) technology research and development, this chapter reviews the progress in advanced electrode materials, electrode/cell designs, microscopic structures, the fundamental understandings of DCFC principles and reaction mechanisms of high-temperature electrochemical carbon conversions. Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) can be regarded as solid-oxide-based DCFCs (SO-DCFC) when solid carbon fuels are directly introduced into their anode chambers. In SO-DCFCs employing liquid metals as carbon conversion electrodes, reactions can be classified into two categories: oxidation of metals to oxides and carbon-related reduction processes. Compared with dry gasification, steam gasification for DCFCs is unpopular because it requires more preheating and extra water input. Catalysts can be introduced into DCFCs to promote carbon conversions. Although theoretical efficiencies of the DCFCs are incredibly high, severe challenges induced by solid carbon fuels still exist. The chapter discusses technical challenges and possible research directions to overcome these challenges.
