Batteries with Solid Ion-Exchange Membrane Electrolytes

Abstract

Hydrogen‐oxygen fuel cells employing a commercial ion‐exchange membrane as the electrolyte are described. Some performance data on this type of cell operating at room temperature with a cation membrane in the hydrogen form and with hydrogen and oxygen at 1 atm are presented. The open circuit EMF is about 0.3 v below the value of 1.23 expected for a reversible cell. This deficiency is found to be caused by the oxygen electrode which does not achieve the reversible half‐cell potential. Equilibration of the membrane electrolyte with sulfuric acid prior to cell assembly results in improved polarization characteristics. Favorable features of these cells include their simple construction and their small unit thickness. In addition, the presence of as much as 67% in the hydrogen feed gas is found to have little effect upon performance. Since the electrolyte is a cross‐linked, water‐saturated polymer, the electrolyte is locked into the structure and cannot be leached from the cell when it is operated within the stability limits of the polymer. No dilution occurs from the water formed at the oxygen electrode during cell operation because it is rejected from the saturated electrolyte.