Propane Dehydrogenation in a Proton-conducting Fuel Cell

The process and reaction mechanism of propane dehydrogenation in a proton-conducting fuel cell were studied at 600−700 °C using Y-doped BeCeO 3 as protonic electrolyte and Pt as electrode catalysts. The electrochemical dehydrogenation of propane was in competition with side reactions caused by the gas species (H 2, C 2 H 6, C 2 H 4 etc.), which were the products of nonelectrochemical reactions (e.g., thermal cracking) in the anode chamber. Among those side electrochemical reactions, hydrogen disassociation into hydrogen ions was predominant. At 650 °C electrochemical dehydrogenation of propane has a higher activation energy than hydrogen disassociation over the anode platinum catalyst; however, the former reaction was more readily achieved at 700 °C.