Acid Absorbancy of an Electrode and Its Cell Performance History

Abstract

Acid movement and performance history of a phosphoric acid fuel cell were studied using electrodes with various acid absorbancies. Acid loaded in a matrix material at the cell fabrication was absorbed by the cathode and anode. Later, acid absorbed by the anode moved through the matrix to the cathode and was carried out of the cell by the cathode gas during cell operation. An electrode with low acid absorbancy was preferable for the cathode and one with high absorbancy for the anode, which functions as an acid reservoir.