Alkaline fuel cells electrolyte choice

The use of an alkaline fuel cell also involves an ammonia cracker, but since the electrolyte of the AEC is not sensitive to ammonia traces, the system is slightly simpler because of the elimination of the purification step. In addition, alkaline cells can run at slightly elevated temperatures (like the high-temperature PEM or higher), and they do not contain expensive platinum. AFCs could be operated with the same choice of metal ammine complex as the PEM. 

Fuel cells are classified primarily according to the nature of the electrolyte. Moreover, the nature of the electrolyte governs the choices of the electrodes and the operation temperatures. Shown in table 10.1 are the fuel cell technologies currently under development. "" Technologies attracting attention toward development and commercialization include direct methanol (DMFC), polymer electrolyte membrane (PEMFC), solid-acid (SAFC), phosphoric acid (PAFC), alkaline (AFC), molten carbonate (MCFC), and solid-oxide (SOFC) fuel cells. This chapter is aimed at the solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and related electrolytes used for the fabrication of cells. 

The noble metals are the only choice for the electrode catalyst in the FEMFC, the PAFC and the DMFC, because only noble metals can resist corrosion from the acidic electrolyte. Unlike these fuel cells working under an acidic electrolyte, the DBFC operates under an alkaline electrolyte. In an alkaline electrolyte, many nonnoble metals such as Ni, Ag can resist corrosion by the electrolyte. The Ni catalyst was used successfully in the Apollo mission fuel cell in 1960s. Since then, the use... 

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