Review of cathode development for molten-carbonate fuel cells

Conference · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:6309884

Pierce, R D; Smith, J L; Poeppel, R B

At the cathode of a molten-carbonate fuel cell, CO/sub 2/, oxygen, and electrons from the external circuit form carbonate ions that migrate through the electrolyte to the anode. Several materials have been used, but by the 1970's, lithiated nickel oxide was the accepted cathode material. Porous electrodes were prepared by in-cell oxidation and lithiation of porous nickel plaques. Advances were made recently in preparing nickel oxide cathodes out-of-cell to avoid problems of dimensional change and to provide better microstructure tailoring. These cathodes are readily lithiated in-cell to achieve semiconducting properties. In mid 1981, it was demonstrated that nickel dissolution and mass transport into the electrolyte structure from lithiated nickel oxide cathodes was excessive under planned power-plant operating conditions. Accordingly, a concentrated effort is underway to find a better cathode material.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 6309884
• Report Number(s): CONF-820508-11; ON: DE83010085
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300502* -- Fuel Cells-- Performance & Testing
CATHODES
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRODES
FUEL CELLS
HIGH-TEMPERATURE FUEL CELLS
MASS TRANSFER
MOLTEN CARBONATE FUEL CELLS
POROSITY
REVIEWS