An Intermediate-temperature H₂S Fuel Cell with a Li₂SO₄-based Proton-conducting Membrane

By ZHONG, Li; QI, Ming; WEI, Guolin; LUO, Jingli & Chuang, K.
Published in Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering NULL 2006

Abstract

A laboratory-scale intermediate-temperature H₂S fuel cell with a configuration of H₂S, (metal sulfide-based composite anode)/Li₂SO₄+Al₂O₃/(NiO-based composite cathode), air was developed and studied for production of power and for desulfurization of a fuel gas process stream. The cell was run at typical temperature (600--650 °C) and ambient pressure, but its electrochemical performance may be limited by electrolyte membrane thickness. The membrane and its performance in cell have been characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and electrochemical impedance spectrum (EIS) techniques. Composite anodes based on metal sulfides, Ag powder and electrolyte behaved well and stably in H₂S stream, and composite cathodes based mainly on nickel oxide, Ag powder and electrolyte had superior performance to Pt catalyst. The maximum power density of up to 70mW·cm⁻² and current density of as high as 250mA·cm-2 were obtained at 650 °C. However, the long-term cell stability remains to be investigated.

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