Binary inorganic salt mixtures as high conductivity liquid electrolytes for >100 °C fuel cells

Abstract

We report the successful application of low-melting inorganic salts with protonated cations (e.g. ammonium) as electrolytes in fuel cells operating in the temperature range 100–200 °C, where even with unoptimized electrodes, cell performance is comparable to that of the phosphoric acid fuel cell operating with optimized electrodes in the same temperature range, while open circuit voltages, and efficiencies at low current densities, can be much better—and there is no need for humidification or pressure to sustain performance.