MORPHOLOGICAL-CHANGES IN THE ELECTRODES OF PHOSPHORIC-ACID FUEL-CELLS OPERATING UNDER OPEN CIRCUIT VOLTAGE CONDITIONS

This paper reports the experimental evidence for morphological changes that occur at the electrodes of phosphoric acid fuel cells (PAFC) under very severe (OCV) conditions. In addition, the dissolution of Pt-supported crystallites in H3PO4 is demonstrated by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) confirming previous results already reported in the literature. Finally, the experimental data are discussed on the basis of an analysis of the reaction rates and models for the corrosion mechanism is postulated. © 1990 Chapman and Hall Ltd.