Structure and materials of alkaline fuel cell

Abstract

To solve the problems of energy and environment, after experimentations and selections, hydrogen steps into the limelight; we call it "the ultimate energy source for the development of human society," and fuel cell technology is an essential step of pursuing the recyclable hydrogen energy. Fuel Cell is viewed as one of "The ideal power generation devices in the 21st century"; it has a high energy transformation efficiency, and the electricity generation process has a low environmental impact. If the fuel is being provided, fuel cells can continuously provide electricity, which can likely be applied in power plants, electric vehicles, electronic devices, mobile communications, and space facilities. This work focuses on Alkaline Fuel Cells. The oxidation-reduction process will be more straightforward in alkaline-based electrolytes than in acidic electrolytes, and the alkaline system will also perform better under room temperature. Besides, Alkaline Fuel Cells (AFC) can use non-platinum catalysts, so the cost is lower than the other Fuel Cells. Thus, designing a Hydrogen-based AFC is what's being focused on in this article. However, AFC has its disadvantages too. First, the CO2 in air and fuel gas must be cleaned up because of the alkaline electrolyte. Furthermore, water is a by-product of the electrochemical reactions inside AFCs. Therefore, AFC performance will be seriously affected if the water doesn`t expel. Another issue that current AFCs face is the problem of CO2 poisoning. To address the above questions, we approached it from a thermodynamic perspective, compared the basic structure, material, drainage method, etc., of multiple alkaline fuel cells, and selected the more efficient ones that will be more effective for developing the AFCs.