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Evaluation of fuel cell electrolytes for direct and indirect oxidation of carbonaceous fuels. Final report, April 1, 1976--March 31, 1978

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6049583· OSTI ID:6049583
The objective of this research program is to find an electrolyte for direct or indirect oxidation of carbonaceous fuels in a fuel cell in which the electro-oxidation rates of hydrogen or the carbonaceous fuel are greater than when 85% H/sub 3/PO/sub 4/ is used as the electrolyte. The main tasks include: (1) measurements of electrical resistivity of the electrolytes at various temperatures; (2) measurement of vapor pressure at various temperatures; and (3) measurements of fuel oxidation and oxygen reduction rates at rotating disk electrodes and gas diffusion electrodes in the selected electrolytes at various temperatures. The following electrolytes were evaluated and their performance was compared to that of 85% H/sub 3/PO/sub 4/ at 135/sup 0/C: pentafluoropropanoic acid, trichloroacetic acid, chlorodifluoroacetic acid, methane disulfonic acid (50 wt % aqueous solution), methane sulfonic acid, benzoic acid, and benzene sulfonic acid. Many of these acids performed very poorly; the only one that proved to be superior to 85% H/sub 3/PO/sub 4/ is the methane sulfonic acid.
Research Organization:
Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park (USA). Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
6049583
Report Number(s):
COO-2927-1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English