Types of Fuel Cell

Phosphoric acid fuel cells -PAFCs • Fuel –H2 and oxidant O2

• Porous carbon electrodes
• Catalyst – Pt
• Electrolyte – H3PO4 in SiC matrix (SiC (70-80%
and binder (polyethersulfone (30-20%)) – Role
is to physically intact to separate electrodes,
reduce ohmic loss and thick enough to prevent
gas crossover (0.1-0.2 mm)
• Working temperature 150 °C - 200°C

• Inorganic acid H3PO4 conducts H+

• Why H3PO4 – thermal, chemical and • First generation FCs and first to be used
electrochemical stability and low commercially in the 1960s/1970s
volatility • Mainly for Stationary power generation
• Doesn’t react with CO2 to form • Electrical efficiency - ~40%
carbonate ions (CO32-) • Co-generation of electricity and heat pushes
• but freezes at ~42 C the efficiency to ~70 -80%
Phosphoric acid fuel cells -PAFCs

• Large, Heavy and expensive ($3000 per kW) – heavy loading of Pt

• Given the weight and volume – less powerful than other FCs.
• More tolerant to fossil fuel impurities (H2 is reformed from fossil fuels) than other FCs
using H2 fuel. PEMFC is vulnerable to CO poisoning of the Pt catalyst. Upto 1.5 % of
CO is tolerated. Sulphur poisoning can also occur (tolerance ~50ppm)
• Acid is corrosive and effect the internal parts
Polymer Electrolyte membrane fuel cells -PEMFCs
• Electrolyte – PEM - flexible, transparent and (20 –
200 um) thick
• MEA – Membrane Electrode Assembly -
electrode/catalyst/PEM/catalyst/electrode (<1 mm
thick)
• Working temperature < 90°C
• Electrical efficiency ~ 40 -50 %

• Power density of Advantages:

500-2500 mW/cm2 • Highest power density among all FCs.
• Low weight and • Relatively low temperature operation allows portability
volume Disadvantages
• Less warm up time • Expensive Pt catalyst
(operates at low • Polymer membrane and ancillary components are expensive
temp. @ 80C • Active water management required
• CO & S poisoning is high - tolerance is very low.
Polymer Electrolyte membrane fuel cells –PEMFCs operated EV

• ~1kg H2 for 100 km

• 5 kg H2 at 700 atm -
~600 km
• https://gaia-
fuelcell.eu/index.php/c
omponent/yendifvideo
share/video/1-mea-
fabrication
 Alkaline Fuel Cells - AFCs
• Catalyst – Pt or no precious metal catalyst, Ni ,
stability in alkaline medium and ORR kinetics
better in alkaline medium – open research topic
• Electrolyte – KOH
• Working temperature – between 100°C - 250 °C
• Electrical efficiency - space application gave 60%
efficiency
• Operating voltage - 0.875 V
• Need pure H2 or O2
• Intolerant to CO2 – KOH electrolyte decomposes
• Conc. Of OH- in the electrolyte decreases - Leads to K2CO3 to
precipitate
• Can be addresses by using CO2 scrubbers and resupplying
fresh KOH electrolyte
• Comes at a cost - becomes economical for only
aerospace industry
Alkaline Fuel Cells - AFCs
• Used cryogenic H2 and O2
• ~rated power of 1.5 kW
• ~weighed 150 kg
• 1966 till moon landing in 1969 – used for 18
missions without any issues
Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells - MCFCs • Porous metal or metal oxide electrodes – Ni/Cr alloy
anode and Lithium Nickel oxide as cathode
• Catalyst – NI in the electrode provide the catalytic
activity
• Electrolyte – Molten Li2CO3 and K2CO3 carbonates in
LiO-AlO2 matrix
• Working temperature – ~650 °C
• Electrical efficiency - ~60% , but combined heat &
power application ~90% ; Operating voltage - 0.875 V
Advantages
• Ideal for stationary and continuous power applications
• CO2 production at • Fuel flexibility – due to higher temperature of operation
anode – H2/ CH4/alcohols
• Has to be recycled • Cheaper catalyst
from the anode to • High quality waste heat for cogeneration
the cathode Disadvantages
• CO2 recycling
• Corrosive, molten electrolyte
Solid Oxide Fuel Cells - SOFCs • Fuel –H2 and oxidant O2
• Anode should be stable against high temp. reducing environment – Ni-
YSZ cermet
• Cathode should withstand oxidation at high temperature – mixed ion
ceramic conductor (strontium doped lanthanum manganite, catalytic )
• Catalyst – Ni in the electrode provide the catalytic activity in anode
• Electrolyte – YSZ
• Working temperature – ~600 °C – 1000 °C
• Electrical efficiency - ~50 - 60% , but combined heat & power
application ~90%
• Most resistant to Sulphur and CO poisoning FC – variety of H2 source
fuels can be used – natural gas, bio gas……
• CO can act as fuel in SOFCs.
 • Direct Methanol FC (DMFC)
Liquid fuelled Fuel Cells - • Direct Formic acid FC (DFAC)
• Direct Borohydride FC (DBFC)
DMFC – like PEMFC – acidic media • Need water at anode for the rxn
A:
• CO2 is formed as anode product
• Pt catalyst used - low temp FC – CO poisoning is a
C: problem
• J0 value for CH3OH rxn is low – higher activation
O: overvoltage losses at anode and cathode
• 30 – 100 mW/cm2 power density – quite low to
PEMFC
DMFC – alkaline media • Huge methanol crossover to cathode side – Use of
A: similar catalyst at anode and cathode doesn’t help.
C:
• Methanol electro-oxidation at anode and ORR at cathode improves in
O: alkaline environment
• Non-Pt catalysts can be employed in alkaline environment
• But CO2 degradation of the electrolyte is a big challenge as in AFC
 DFAC

DBFC
• alkaline FC
• 1.64 V operational voltage
• Operation temperature of
70C
• Borax (NaBO2) protects from CO2 poisoning
Microbial Fuel cells Anode:

Cathode:

• Anode - fuel – glucose, waste

water
• Anerobic bacteria can oxidize
sugar to CO2 releasing e- and H+
• e- are captured by a bacteria
containing a redox active enzyme
or by redox active species (dye
molecules, inorganic centers …)
• Thionine, methyl Blue, ferro
cyanide….)
• Power in micro Watts – low
power applications
Metal –Air cells • Half battery/Half Fuel cell

• Typical Zn-air battery –used in

low power applications – hearing
aids
• Anode rxn battery like, cathode
rxn fuel cell like

Li –air battery, Na- air battery are similar in working but with
much higher energy density values
FC types in a nutshell