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Oxygen reduction on carbon-supported platinum fuel-cell electrodes in H/sub 3/PO/sub 4/

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6467568

The reduction of oxygen on carbon supported fuel cell electrodes was investigated in phosphoric acid electrolytes in the concentration range of 85% to 101% and at temperatures from 25/sup 0/ to 180/sup 0/C. In purified acid the Tafel slope in the potential region of 0.7 to 0.9 V RHE is approx. 120 mV/decade and is invariant with temperature. The activation energy for oxygen reduction is between 8 kcal and 13 kcal/mole. In impure 101% electrolyte the Tafel slope increases from a value of 85 mV/decade at 80/sup 0/C to 105 mV/decade at 180/sup 0/C and the activation energy is 18.29 kcal/mole. The major discrepancies in the literature can be rationalized on the basis of impurity effects. In pure electrolytes, the kinetic parameters on smooth platinum and high area carbon supported platinum are the same.

Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-76CH00016
OSTI ID:
6467568
Report Number(s):
BNL-29788; CONF-8105105-2; ON: DE81027303
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English