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U.S. Department of Energy
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Stabilizing platinum in phosphoric acid fuel cells. Final report, December 1980-March 1982

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5328889

The cathode of the phosphoric acid fuel cell uses a high-surface-area platinum catalyst supported on a carbon substrate. During operation, the small platinum crystallites sinter, causing a loss in cell performance. The objective of this project was to investigate methods of stabilizing platinum in the high-surface-area condition by retarding or preventing the sintering process. During the course of this project, a process was developed that combines the catalytic oxidation methods of Blurton and Kunz with the carbon deposition techniques of Jalan. Using this combined process, air-cathodes were fabricated, which were stable for over 3000 hours of dynamic testing in fuel cells using 100% phosphoric acid at 191/sup 0/C. The performance of these cathodes remained virtually unchanged over the course of 3000 hours, and x-ray diffraction line broadening studies indicated only a slight change in crystallite size.

Research Organization:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Cleveland, OH (USA). Lewis Research Center; Institute of Gas Technology, Chicago, IL (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AI01-80ET17088
OSTI ID:
5328889
Report Number(s):
DOE/NASA/0208-4; NASA-CR-165606; ON: DE82019323
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English