Electrolytes cell component

Electrochemical processes require feedstock preparation for the electrolytic cells. Additionally, the electrolysis product usually requires further processing. This often involves additional equipment, as is demonstrated by the flow diagram shown in Figure 1 for a membrane chlor-alkali cell process (see Alkali AND chlorine products). Only the electrolytic cells and components ate discussed herein. 

Carbonaceous materials serve several functions in electrodes and other cell components for aqueous-electrolyte batteries, and these are summarized in Table 1. 

An electrochemical cell in which electrolysis takes place is called an electrolytic cell. The arrangement of components in electrolytic cells is different from that in galvanic cells. Typically, the two electrodes share the same compartment, there is only one electrolyte, and concentrations and pressures are far front standard. As in all electrochemical cells, the current is carried through the electrolyte by the ions present. For example, when copper metal is refined electrolytically, the anode is impure copper, the cathode is pure copper, and the electrolyte is an aqueous solution of CuS04. As the Cu2f ions in solution are reduced and deposited as Cu atoms at the cathode, more Cu2+ ions migrate toward the cathode to take their place, and in turn their concentration is restored by Cu2+ produced by oxidation of copper metal at the anode. 

Sol-gel techniques have been widely used to prepare ceramic or glass materials with controlled microstructures. Applications of the sol-gel method in fabrication of high-temperature fuel cells are steadily reported. Modification of electrodes, electrolytes or electrolyte/electrode interface of the fuel cell has been also performed to produce components with improved microstructures. Recently, the sol-gel method has expanded into inorganic-organic hybrid membranes for low-temperature fuel cells. This paper presents an overview concerning current applications of sol-gel techniques in fabrication of fuel cell components. 

Electrolyte loss occurring in long-term operation of MCFC is another problem to be solved for practical application of MCFC. For commercialization, the MCFC should show stable performance over 40,000 hours. Electrolyte loss in MCFC is caused by various factors, e.g., corrosion of components, creepage, reaction with cell components and direct evaporation. These... 

Sol-gel techniques have been successfidly applied to form fuel cell components with enhanced microstructures for high-temperature fuel cells. The apphcations were recently extended to synthesis of hybrid electrolyte for PEMFC. Although die results look promising, the sol-gel processing needs further development to deposit micro-structured materials in a selective area such as the triple-phase boundary of a fuel cell. That is, in the case of PEMFC, the sol-gel techniques need to be expanded to form membrane-electrode-assembly with improved microstructures in addition to the synthesis of hybrid membranes to get higher fuel cell performance. 

It is well established that sulfur compounds even in low parts per million concentrations in fuel gas are detrimental to MCFCs. The principal sulfur compound that has an adverse effect on cell performance is H2S. A nickel anode at anodic potentials reacts with H2S to form nickel sulfide. Chemisorption on Ni surfaces occurs, which can block active electrochemical sites. The tolerance of MCFCs to sulfur compounds is strongly dependent on temperature, pressure, gas composition, cell components, and system operation (i.e., recycle, venting, and gas cleanup). Nickel anode at anodic potentials reacts with H2S to form nickel sulfide. Moreover, oxidation of H2S in a combustion reaction, when recycling system is used, causes subsequent reaction with carbonate ions in the electrolyte [1]. Some researchers have tried to overcome this problem with additional device such as sulfur removal reactor. If the anode itself has a high tolerance to sulfur, the additional device is not required, hence, cutting the capital cost for MCFC plant. To enhance the anode performance on sulfur tolerance, ceria coating on anode is proposed. The main reason is that ceria can react with H2S [2,3] to protect Ni anode. 

When an electrolytic cell is designed, care must be taken in the selection of the cell components. For example, consider what happens when an aqueous solution of sodium chloride is electrolyzed using platinum electrodes. Platinum is used for passive electrodes, because this metal is resistant to oxidation and does not participate in the redox chemistry of the cell. There are three major species in the solution H2 O, Na, and Cl. Chloride ions... 

It is very often necessary to characterize the redox properties of a given system with unknown activity coefficients in a state far from standard conditions. For this purpose, formal (solution with unit concentrations of all the species appearing in the Nernst equation its value depends on the overall composition of the solution. If the solution also contains additional species that do not appear in the Nernst equation (indifferent electrolyte, buffer components, etc.), their concentrations must be precisely specified in the formal potential data. The formal potential, denoted as E0, is best characterized by an expression in parentheses, giving both the half-cell reaction and the composition of the medium, for example E0,(Zn2+ + 2e = Zn, 10-3M H2S04). 

The perovskite oxides used for SOFC cathodes can react with other fuel cell components especially with yttria-zirconia electrolyte and chromium-containing interconnect materials at high temperatures. However, the relative reactivity of the cathodes at a particular temperature and the formation of different phases in the fuel cell atmosphere... 

Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) are being considered as a potential alternative energy conversion device for mobile power applications. Since the electrolyte of a PEM fuel cell can function at low temperatures (typically at 80 °C), PEMFCs are unique from the other commercially viable types of fuel cells. Moreover, the electrolyte membrane and other cell components can be manufactured very thin, allowing for high power production to be achieved within a small volume of space. Thus, the combination of small size and fast start-up makes PEMFCs an excellent candidate for use in mobile power applications, such as laptop computers, cell phones, and automobiles. 

The design and construction of an electrochemical cell derives from consideration of the system being examined. Potential sources of contamination must be carefully evaluated. Cell components are typically made of inert materials such as Teflon or Kel-F. Alternatively, electrolyte contact with confining materials may be avoided altogether by letting the cell be defined by the geometry of a hanging meniscus. The latter method has been incor-... 

Electrolyte management, that is, the control over the optimum distribution of molten carbonate electrolyte in the different cell components, is critical for achieving high performance and endurance with MCFCs. Various processes (i.e., consumption by corrosion reactions, potential driven migration, creepage of salt and salt vaporization) occur, all of which contribute to the redistribution of molten carbonate in MCFCs these aspects are discussed by Maru et al. (4) and Kunz (5). 

The coupling of these improvements needs to be proven to meet endurance goals operation at pressure will definitely require design changes. The studies described in the recent literature provide updated information on promising development of the electrodes, the electrolyte matrix, and the capability of the cell to tolerate trace constituents in the fuel supply. The objectives of these works are to increase the life of the cells, improve cell performance, and lower cell component costs. Descriptions of some of this work follow. 

The resistivities of typical cell components at 1000°C (1832°F) under fuel cell gaseous environments are (6) 10 ohm cm (ionic) for the electrolyte (8-10 mol% Y2O3 doped Z1O2),... 

The successful operation of SOFCs requires individual cell components that are thermally compatible so that stable interfaces are established at 1000°C (1832°F), i.e., thermal expansion coefficients for cell components must be closely matched to reduce stresses arising from differential thermal expansion between components. Fortunately, the electrolyte, interconnection, and cathode listed in Table 8-1 have reasonably close thermal expansion coefficients [i.e., 10 cm/cm°C from room temperature to 1000°C (1832°F)]. An anode made of 100 mol% nickel would have excellent electrical conductivity. However, the thermal expansion coefficient of 100 mol% nickel would be 50% greater than the ceramic electrolyte, or the cathode tube, which causes a thermal mismatch. This thermal mismatch has been resolved by mixing ceramic powders with Ni or NiO. The trade-off of the amount of Ni (to achieve high conductivity) and amount of ceramic (to better match the other component thermal coefficients of expansion) is Ni/YSZ 30/70, by volume (1). 

The voltage losses in SOFCs are governed by ohmic losses in the cell components. The contribution to ohmic polarization (iR) in a tubular cell" is 45% from cathode, 18% from the anode, 12% from the electrolyte, and 25% from the interconnect, when these components have thickness (mm) of 2.2, 0.1, 0.04 and 0.085, respectively, and specific resistivities (ohm cm) at 1000°C of 0.013, 3 X 10, 10, and 1, respectively. The cathode iR dominates the total ohmic loss despite the higher specific resistivities of the electrolyte and cell interconnection because of the short conduction path through these components and the long current path in the plane of the cathode. 

Giilzow, E., Schulze, M., Wagner, N., Kaz, T., Reissner, R., Steinhilber, G., and Schneider, A. Dry layer preparation and characterization of polymer electrolyte fuel cell components. Journal of Power Sources 2000 86 352-362. 

Because of its lower temperature and special polymer electrolyte membrane, the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is well-suited for transportation, portable, and micro fuel cell applications. But the performance of these fuel cells critically depends on the materials used for the various cell components. Durability, water management, and reducing catalyst poisoning are important factors when selecting PEMFC materials. 

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