Extended phosphoric acid fuel cell

As an outlook to further improvements of catalyst kinetics and durability in low-and high-temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cells, several possibilities are currently under investigation [73] (1) extended large-scale Pt and Pt-alloy surfaces [70] (2) extended nanostructured Pt and Pt-aUoy films [74] (3) de-alloyed Pt-alloy nanoparticles [75] (4) precious metal free catalyst as described by Lefevre et al. [76], e.g., Fe/N/C catalysts and (5) additives to the electrolyte which modify both adsorption properties of anions and spectator species and also the solubility of oxygen [77]. The latter approach is specific to fuel cells using phosphoric acid as electrolyte. 

The low cost and excellent oxidation and thermal stability of phosphoric acid doped polybenzimidazole (PBI) prompted researchers at Case Western University (Samms et a/., 1996 Wang et /., 1996a,b,c) to develop this membrane as a polymer electrolyte for DMFCs. After investigation of the thermal stability of PBI doped with phosphoric acid up to 600°C, it was concluded that this membrane is adequate for use as PEM in a high temperature fuel cell. These studies may also be extended to other polymers like the polybenzimidazobenzophenanthrolines (PBIPAs) which exhibit excellent thermal and mechanical properties (Zhou and Lu, 1994). 

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