A UNITIZED APPROACH TO REGENERATIVE SOLID POLYMER ELECTROLYTE FUEL-CELLS

In this work on regenerative fuel cells, the initial part deals with water electrolysis using a cell design that closely resembled that of a solid polymer fuel cell. The electrolytes were Nafion(R) 117 and the Dow experimental membrane. The electrodes were Pt-on-C and Pt/Ir-on-C gas diffusion electrodes on the oxygen side and Pt-on-C on the hydrogen side. Fuel cells were built with the above mentioned electrodes and membranes. These cells were run to obtain fuel cell and electrolysis data. Data for a maximum of five regenerative cycles were obtained. The current-potential data in the regenerative electrolysis were characterized by a gradual decay with time. The fuel cell data were very stable. The membrane-electrode assemblies were found in very good condition, and no visible corrosion of electrodes was evident.