Molten carbonate fuel ceel electrolyte

Patent · Tue Mar 14 04:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:5160338

Marianowski, L G; Camara, E H; Maru, H C

An improved molten-carbonate fuel-cell electrolyte developed by IGT permits thermal cycling of the fuel cell from reaction temperatures to room temperatures without a significant decrease in the cell's power output. The electrolyte's inert support matrix is predominantely LiAlO/sub 2/ having a crystalline structure with an average length/diameter ratio greater than about 3 and a surface area greater than about 5 m/sup 2//g; the carbonates composition is a ternary lithium-potassium-sodium or binary lithium-potassium or lithium-sodium carbonates composition having a thermal expansion of about 1.5 to about 3.5 x 10/sup -5/ in/in-/sup 0/C. The improved molten-carbonate fuel-cell electrolyte - capable of containing 50 to 70 wt % carbonate components to provide high-power densities - is also resistant to physical damage on thermal cycling of the fuel cell. The electrolyte may be reinforced with metallic alloys to provide additional strength characteristics.

• Assignee: Institute of Gas Technology
• Patent Number(s): US 4079171
• OSTI ID: 5160338
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300503* -- Fuel Cells-- Materials
Components
& Auxiliaries
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALUMINATES
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATES
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTROLYTES
FUEL CELLS
HIGH-TEMPERATURE FUEL CELLS
LITHIUM CARBONATES
LITHIUM COMPOUNDS
MATERIALS
MATRIX MATERIALS
MOLTEN CARBONATE FUEL CELLS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POTASSIUM CARBONATES
POTASSIUM COMPOUNDS
SODIUM CARBONATES
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
THERMAL CYCLING