Hydrogen-halogen electrochemical cells: A review of applications and technologies

Abstract

Described herein are established and emerging applications of hydrogen-halogen direct and regenerative fuel cells such as energy recovery from excess H2 and Cl2 products of chloro-alkali electrolysis as well as stationary and on-board energy storage. Due to significant similarities between hydrogen-halogen fuel cells and electrolyzers, the latter are also discussed. This is followed by a more detailed description of various designs classified on the basis of their electrolytes: aqueous solutions, ionomers, phosphoric acid doped polybenzimidazole, halide melts and others. It is concluded that hydrogen-chlorine and hydrogen-bromine cells may present competitive options for on-board and grid energy storage. However, the choice of the most suitable electrolyte for such cells cannot be made at present and more studies of complete systems, particularly with ionomers and solid acid electrolytes, would be desirable. © 2014 Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.