THE POLARIZATION OF MOLTEN CARBONATE FUEL-CELL ELECTRODES .1. ANALYSIS OF STEADY-STATE POLARIZATION DATA

The stationary polarization of small, differential conversion, molten carbonate fuel cells (3 cm2) was measured between 600 and 700-degrees-C under various gas compositions. Multiple linear regression was used to correlate the experimental data and to infer the rate-limiting processes in fuel cell electrodes. The analysis indicates that both the anode and the cathode are primarily under mixed control at 700-degrees-C at low partial pressures of CO2. The anode does not exhibit charge-transfer control under normal operating conditions, due to its very fast kinetics. The superoxide mechanism appears to be the dominant reaction in a fuel cell cathode.