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Title: Intermediate temperature fuel cells via an ion-pair coordinated polymer electrolyte

Journal Article · · Energy & Environmental Science
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/C7EE03595K · OSTI ID:1473810

Fuel cells are attractive devices that convert chemical energy into electricity through the direct electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen. Intermediate temperature fuel cells operated at 200–300°C can simplify water and thermal managements, enable the use of non-precious or low-loading precious metal catalysts and provide insensitivity toward fuel and air impurities such as carbon monoxide. However, the performance of current intermediate temperature fuel cells is poor due to a lack of highly-conductive membrane electrolytes and optimal electrodes designed for these fuel cells. We demonstrate high-performing intermediate temperature fuel cells that use SnP2O7–polymer composite membranes and a quaternary ammonium-biphosphate ion-pair coordinated polymer electrolyte in the electrodes. The peak power density of the fuel cell under H2 and O2 reached 870 mW cm-2 at 240°C with minimal performance loss under exposure to 25% carbon monoxide.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Contributing Organization:
Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-06NA25396; AR0000314
OSTI ID:
1473810
Report Number(s):
LA-UR--17-31199
Journal Information:
Energy & Environmental Science, Journal Name: Energy & Environmental Science Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 11; ISSN EESNBY; ISSN 1754-5692
Publisher:
Royal Society of ChemistryCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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