RESEARCH ON LOW TEMPERATURE FUEL CELL SYSTEMS

Abstract

The polarization behavior of the oxygen electrode or hydrogen-oxygen cells on open circuit and in the non-linear region is shown to depend, among other factors, on (a) type of electrode material (b) surface treatment (c) pH (d) presence of foreign ions and their concentrations (e) stirring or agitation (f) cell design parameters and the technique of single electrode potential measurement. Most significant experimental observations concerning the open circuit behavior include (a) transient open circuit voltages greater than the thermodynamically reversible potential of 1.23 volts under certain conditions, (b) experimentally observed effect of higher temperature on the open circuit voltage of the oxygen electrode is in a direction opposite to thermodynamic predictions. Experimental evidence is presented to show that the hydrogen and oxygen electrodes operating in the same bulk electrolyte under steady-state current flow conditions are always associated with significant pH changes (or concentration gradient) at each electrode. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 15, 1961
Accession Number
AD0265763

Entities

Organizations

  • General Electric

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Cells
  • Electrodes
  • Fuel Cells
  • Hydrogen
  • Low Temperature
  • Materials
  • Oxygen Electrodes
  • Steady State
  • Surface Finishing
  • Temperature Gradients

Fields of Study

  • Materials science

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Materials Science and Engineering.
  • Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology