Improved Anodes for Liquid Hydrocarbon Fuel Cell.

Abstract

Low power fuel cells operating on liquid hydrocarbons, such as methanol and ethylene glycol, have received renewed attention. The current state-of-the-art of anodes used in liquid hydrocarbon fuel cells operating at ambient temperatures of 22 C consist of platinum and palladium catalyst loadings of approximately 10 mg/sq cm. The cost and quantity of these noble metals required for anode electrode fabrication are high. Investigations conducted to reduce the noble metal catalyst loadings have lead to the development of an electrode consisting of graphite, platinum (2.4 mg/sq cm), and anodic lead dioxide. Cells fabricated with the new anode (graphite, platinum, and lead dioxide) and silver amalgam cathodes were capable of operating at current densities of 20 mA/sq cm at 0.60 V when charged with an anolyte solution of either methanol in potassium hydroxide or ethylene glycol in potassium hydroxide. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1978
Accession Number
ADA058456

Entities

People

  • John Perry

Organizations

  • United States Army Communications-Electronics Command

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Alcohols
  • Alkenes
  • Current Density
  • Dioxides
  • Electrodes
  • Ethylene Glycol
  • Ethylenes
  • Fabrication
  • Fuel Cells
  • Graphitic Materials
  • Hydrocarbon Fuels
  • Hydrocarbons
  • Hydroxides
  • Lead Dioxide
  • Metals
  • Platinum
  • Test And Evaluation

Readers

  • Electrochemical Engineering/ Fuel Cell Technologies

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology