Highly efficient electrochemical reforming of CH/CO in a solid oxide electrolyser.

Reforming CH into syngas using CO remains a fundamental challenge due to carbon deposition and nanocatalyst instability. We, for the first time, demonstrate highly efficient electrochemical reforming of CH/CO to produce syngas in a solid oxide electrolyser with CO electrolysis in the cathode and CH oxidation in the anode. In situ exsolution of an anchored metal/oxide interface on perovskite electrode delivers remarkably enhanced coking resistance and catalyst stability. In situ Fourier transform infrared characterizations combined with first principle calculations disclose the interface activation of CO at a transition state between a CO molecule and a carbonate ion. Carbon removal at the interfaces is highly favorable with electrochemically provided oxygen species, even in the presence of H or HO. This novel strategy provides optimal performance with no obvious degradation after 300 hours of high-temperature operation and 10 redox cycles, suggesting a reliable process for conversion of CH into syngas using CO.