Application of biochar derived from used cigarette filters in direct carbon solid oxide fuel cell

As a typical waste, used cigarette filters (UCFs) are difficult to biodegrade and harmful to the environment. The direct carbon solid oxide fuel cell (DC-SOFC) is an energy conversion device that can utilize carbon directly, including biochar, as fuel. We report a superior DCSOFC powered by Fe-loaded UCF biochar in this paper. The microstructure and composition are characterized, indicating that the UCF biochar is micron-sized and contains metal elements such as K and Ca that are beneficial to the performance of DC-SOFC. The peak power density of the cell fueled by pure UCF biochar is 308 mW cm-2 and increases to 341 mW cm-2 after loading Fe as the catalyst, which is comparable to that of the cell with Fe-loaded activated carbon (368 mW cm-2). It proves the feasibility of the UCF biochar as fuel for DC-SOFCs, providing a theoretical basis and technical demonstration for the disposal and transformation of solid waste. (c) 2022 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This paper reports a superior DC-SOFC powered by Fe-loaded used cigarette filter (UCF) biochar. The UCF biochar, characterized by its micron-sized structure and metal elements beneficial to the performance of DC-SOFC, serves as a feasible fuel with a peak power density of 341 mW cm-2.