A study on electric conductivity of phosphoric acid supported on nano-pore rice husk silica in H2/Pt/H3PO4 / RHS/Pt/O2 fuel cells.
PEMFC (Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell) is widely considered as an energy conversion system from the chemical energy of hydrogen to electric energy. But, hydrogen fuel obtained from hydrocarbons has trace amount of carbon monoxide which is a potential poison for platinum electrode at the cell operating temperature approximately 100 degrees C and it becomes a huddle for the general usage of PEMFC. On the other hand PAFC (Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell) operates at a higher temperature and the platinum electrode oxidizes carbon monoxide poison while there is a leakage problem of the liquid phase. To combine the advantages of two fuel cells, the electrolyte systems of phosphoric acid supported silica on ceramics are recently being tested. In this study, we investigated the nm pore rice husk silica as a support for phosphoric acid and tested the electric conductivity of the silica plate and the characteristics of a prototype fuel cell H2/Pt/H3PO4 / RHS/Pt/O2 at 100-200 degrees C. The conductivity of H3PO4/RHS was 8 mS cm(-1) above 175 degrees C under 200 torr H2O. In the fuel cell, the apparent conductance of the electrolyte from I-V characteristics was 2.45 mS/cm at 160 degrees C under 1 atm H2 and air at present.
Hwang
Moon Jin
MJ
NTRC & Department of Chemistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 500757, Korea.
Lee
Soo Young
SY
Han
Chong Soo
CS
D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000737:chemistry; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004566:Electrodes; D004573:Electrolytes; D004581:Electronics; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D012275:Oryza; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D010756:Phosphoric Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D010984:Platinum / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers; D011312:Pressure; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature
D004573:Electrolytes; D010756:Phosphoric Acids; D011108:Polymers; D010984:Platinum; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D006859:Hydrogen; C030242:phosphoric acid; D010100:Oxygen