Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Using Plastic Waste Directly as Fuel

Abstract

Direct utilization of combustible waste as an energy resource is very attractive for improving waste-to-energy conversion efficiency. Herein, we report a high-performance solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) that can be supplied continuously with plastic waste as a fuel. Iron(III) oxide powder functioned as a pseudofuel in the ion transfer process and as a catalyst for gasification of the plastic. The resultant SOFC provided peak power densities of 0.71, 0.68, and 0.57 W cm⁻² for nylon 66, polyethylene, and polystyrene, respectively.