Electrolyte factor in O[sub 2] reduction electrocatalysis. Technical report

The performance of acid fuel cells operating at moderate temperatures (less than or = 250 deg C) is limited by the irreversibility of the O (sub 2) cathode. Much effort has been directed to identifying more active catalysts than highly dispersed platinum which sets the present bench mark. The optimization of the choice of electrolytes, however, also provides a way to speed up the kinetics. This paper lists, various ways in which the electrolyte can influence the kinetics of the O[sub 2] reduction and discusses a few in more detail. The conclusion is reached that the adsorption of electrolyte components has a pronounced effect but that the kinetics do not have a strong dependence on pH or O[sub 2] solubility when mass transport control is not involved. Experimental results for a few new acid electrolytes and proton exchange membranes are presented.... Fuel cells operating on H2 and O[sub 2] in acid electrolyte, Oxygen reduction kinetics, Platinum electrocatalysts for cathodes, New acids for H2 - O[sub 2] fuel cells.