Alkaline Fuel Cell

5
Factors Affecting Long-Term Performance
&
Technical Barriers for Commercialization

Shahed Islam

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 MAJOR FACTORS
AFFECTING LONG TERM PERFORMANCE

Major Concern Effect

1) Electrolyte: Low power density

Contamination/poisoning
Stack Life
2) Electrode/catalyst:
Degradation

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1. ELECTROLYTE POISONING: WITH CO2

Source: CO2 Poisoning

Carbon dioxide source
◦ Presence in the Fuel or Air stream
◦ [or as a result of carbon catalyst corrosion]

Chemical Reaction:
Carbon dioxide Poisoning in Air Breathing
Alkaline Fuel Cells
CO2 + 2OH  CO3-2 + H2O
or,

CO2 + 2KOH  K2CO3 + H2O

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 1. ELECTROLYTE POISONING: WITH CO2

Effects:

1) Reduced OH¯ concentration, interfering with

kinetics
◦ Lower pH of electrolyte
◦ Reduction of ionic conductivity

2) Electrolyte viscosity increase, resulting in

lower diffusion rate and lower limiting currents;

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 1. ELECTROLYTE POISONING WITH CO2

Degradation in AFC Electrode Potential with CO2 Containing and CO2 Free Air Source
[FC Handbook: p124]

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1. ELECTROLYTE POISONING: WITH CO2

Effects: contd.

3) Precipitation of carbonate salts out of the

solution:
◦ Block pores in electrode
 Change electrolyte Volume
 Limit reactant access
 reduced oxygen solubility (cathode block)

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1. ELECTROLYTE POISONING WITH CO2

Polarization curves of the fuel cells (HKU-002C) with different electrolytes at 298K
[Accelerated Studies - A. Tewari: Quantification of CO2, Fig-1]
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 2. ELECTRODE/CATALYST DEGRADATION

Common non-noble electrode materials

investigated

◦ Silver : Most often considered as cathodic catalyst

◦ Nickel : Most often considered as anodic catalyst

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2. ELECTRODE/CATALYST DEGRADATION

Postulation

Crystallized carbonate might destroy the layers

of the electrode mechanically

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- EFFECTS OF CARBONATE PRECIPITATION
 1% CO2 in oxidant stream at 25C
◦ Significant half cell performance decrease seen in just 2 hours
 Reactive site blockage due to presence of carbonates on electrode
(verified by XRD)

Al-Saleh et. al., 1994

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TECHNICAL ISSUES TO BE OVERCOME FOR
COMMERCIALIZATION

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OVERCOMING THE BARRIERS
FOR COMMERCIALIZATION

 CO2 Poisoning

 Stack life/Cost

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STRATEGIES FOR CONTROLLING CO2
POISONING

a) Filtration of oxidant stream to remove trace

CO2 amounts
◦ Soda lime absorption towers
 1kg soda lime / 8 kwh operation time
Pros:
◦ Significantly lower amount of CO2 introduced into
fuel cell system
Cons:
◦ Space/design issues
◦ Higher capital and operational costs

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 STRATEGIES FOR CONTROLLING CO2
POISONING

b) Molecular sieve regenerative adsorbers

Pros:
◦ Significantly lower amount of CO2 introduced into
fuel cell system

Cons:
◦ Space/design issues
◦ Not feasible

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 STRATEGIES FOR CONTROLLING CO2
POISONING

C) Circulating electrolyte / Electrolyte replacement

 Pros:
◦ Possible to filter the circulating electrolyte
◦ Can also perform a batch replacement of electrolyte
◦ Removes by product: water; easy mgmt of excess heat
◦ Mitigates problems caused by CO2 poisoning
 Cons:
◦ Design is similar to water circulation loops present in PEMFCs,
however circulating liquid is corrosive
◦ Space/design issues
◦ Increased capital and operational costs

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 STRATEGIES FOR CONTROLLING CO2 POISONING

d) Solid anion exchange membrane as electolyte

◦ hydrocarbon polymeric membrane is being developed

 Pros:
◦ No free OH- ions in solution so carbide formation is limited
◦ Solid membrane so handling of potentially corrosive liquids is
eliminated

 Cons:
◦ Lower ionic conductivity
 Decreased cell performance
◦ Low thermal stability

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 OTHER TECHNICAL BARRIERS:

Power Density: to increase COST: to decrease

- Electrolyte Conductivity increase
- Higher catalyst activity
- Improve design
- Mass production
- Research into novel/cheaper materials
- Cost of component materials
- Cost of manufacturing
- Decreased costs will accelerate
commercialization of AFCs

THESE TECHNICAL BARRIERS CAN BE OVERCOME, WITH

MORE RESEARCH AND INTEREST.

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 SUMMARY/CONCLUSION

CO2 is not a problem, slightly lower performance is

due to reduced conductivity of the electrolyte and
the electrolyte can be changed periodically as
changing oil in IC engine

For wider application, research on anion exchange

membrane is required

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REFERENCES
1) Meng Ni. et al, WHEC 16, June 2006: Technological development and prospect of
AFSs

2) Gulzow, E. et al, 2004 [243 – 251]: Long-term operation of AFC electrode .. ..

3) Scott, K. et al, Journal of power Sources, 175, 2008

4) Al-Saleh, M. et al, 1994 [575 – 580]: Effect of CO2 on the performance of Ni and Ag
in an AFC

5) Schulze, M. et al, Journal of power Sources, 127, 2004

6) Tewary, A. et al, Journal of Power Source, 153, 2006: Quantification of CO2 in air
breathing AFCs

7) K. Kordesch, J. Gsellmann and B. Kraetschmer, in Power Sources, 9, Edited by J.

Thompson, Academic Press, New York, NY, 379, 1983

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