DCFC with Molten Hydroxide Electrolyte

Molten KOH or NaOH is used as the electrolyte, which is contained within a metallic container. The metallic container acts as the cathode and a carbon rod dipped into electrolyte acts as both fuel and anode of the cell. Molten hydroxide electrolytes possess advantageous features such as high ionic conductivity, low overpotential and high carbon oxidation rate with a low operation temperature of 600°C for DCFC, which make its components fabrication economical. The dominant reaction product would be CO2 instead of CO. The ceU reactions are given as follows  

Carbonate formation stiU needs to be addressed as it remains the potential problem. Carbonate formation has been explained using chemical and electrochemical process as follows  

Equation (1.54) further consists of two steps as demonstrated below  

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William Jacques demonstrated DCFC with molten sodium hydroxide as the electrolyte. Figure 1.23 shows the DCFC used by Scientific Applications and Research Associates (SARA) Inc. 

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