Contents Alkaline Electrolyte Fuel Cells

Normally, the C02 present in the atmosphere poisons the electrodes of alkaline fuel cells—one reason why transportation fuel cell developers have been concentrating on PEM-type fuel cells in the 1990s, since they are largely immune to the problem. Kordesch neatly solved that particular difficulty by installing a soda-lime air scrubber, which removed at least half of the air s C02 content of 0.03 percent. Additionally, his cell s alkaline (KOH) electrolyte absorbed some C02, reducing contamination even more. (Kordesch says the electrolyte could be easily changed when it had taken up too much C02.)... 

Methanol is a much more realistic fuel for fuel cells. The specific energy content of methanol when electrochemically completely oxidized to CO2 is 0.84 Ah/g. For fuel cells with methanol as a fuel, acidic electrolyte solutions must be used. Alkaline solutions are inappropriate, as the alkali combines with CO2 produced in the fuel cell to insoluble carbonates. In the early 1960s, first laboratory models of methanol-air fuel cells were built. As large amounts of expensive platinum catalysts were used in these fuel cells, work in this direction soon ended and was not taken up again for many years. 

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