Patent ID: 8309272

Claim:
A method of power generation, in a solid oxide cell comprising: activating an anode of the solid oxide cell by depositing solid carbon on the anode; supplying an oxidizing gas to a cathode of the solid oxide cell; reacting carbon dioxide with the solid carbon deposited on the anode to form carbon monoxide, thus depleting the solid carbon; oxidizing carbon monoxide at the anode to generate an electrical current by charge transfer to the cathode; and upon depletion of the solid carbon deposited on the anode; reactivating the anode by depositing solid carbon on the anode; wherein a value of Q/T is 1 (mAh/(cm 2 ·min)) or larger, in which T is the duration of activation (min) and Q is an amount of charge transfer per unit area of the anode (mAh/cm 2 ), the solid oxide cell comprises: an anode comprising a composite metal oxide or a cermet; a cathode comprising a cathode material; and an electrolyte disposed between the anode and the cathode, comprising an ionically conductive solid oxide.