skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Fuel cell applied research: electrocatalysis and materials. Quarterly report, October 1-December 31, 1979

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6658842· OSTI ID:6658842

Research on electrocatalysis of phosphoric acid fuel cell reactions is reported. Five types of carbon obtained from Cabot Laboratories (Cabot designation of carbons - Monarch 1300, CSX 98, Mogul L, Vulcan XC-72R and Regan 660R) were compared as supports for platinum electrocatalysts. Experiments were conducted to determine the wetting characteristics of the carbons on the electrocatalytic activity of supported platinum for oxygen reduction. The latter was investigated by a cyclic voltammetry technique. The changes in the electrochemically active surface areas on increasing the temperature from 25/sup 0/ to 135/sup 0/C and after carrying out oxygen reduction were measured from the hydrogen desorption charge in the cyclic voltammograms. Also, research on electrode kinetics in high-temperature solid electrolyte fuel cells is described. The influence of electrode material on oxygen reduction kinetics and the reaction mechanism on platinum at interfaces with solid electrolytes were investigated. Direct current and alternating current impedance techniques were used. Studies on the oxidation of H/sub 2/ on platinum and gold interfaces with the zirconia electrolyte interface were begun. Experiments on single contact ball electrodes of platinum were used. Slow potential sweep techniques (scan rate 5 mV/sec) were used. Results are presented and discussed. (WHK)

Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-76CH00016
OSTI ID:
6658842
Report Number(s):
BNL-51272
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English