Development of the direct ammonia fuel cell operating at low temperatures
2011 Volume 36 Issue 2 Pages 44-49
Details
2011 Volume 36 Issue 2 Pages 44-49
The feasibility of the direct ammonia fuel cells operating at low temperatures was investigated. In this study, the anion-exchange membrane (AEM) was used as an electrolyte. The performance of the fuel cells employing three-different anodes was evaluated by feeding NH3
fuel. The open circuit voltage (OCV) was lower than the ideal electromotive force of 1.17 V and significantly dependent on the electrocatalysts. The obtained OCV was in the following sequence; Pt-Ru > C > Pt/C > Ru/C. This tendency agreed with the order of electrocatalytic activity of anodes evaluated in an alkaline aqueous solution with NH3. The OCV and performance continuously decreased during the consecutive 1-V characteristic measurements due to the Nad poisoning over the electrocatalyst surface when the Pt/C was applied as an anode. Furthermore, a noticeable amount of ammonia fuel was permeated across the AEM, and the nitrogen species were detected as N2 and NO in the cathode exhaust gas. This phenomenon also led to the reduction in OCV of the direct ammonia fuel cell.
