Intermediate-temperature alkaline fuel cells with non-platinum electrodes

Abstract

This report describes experimental results that demonstrate that less expensive Ru and Pd catalysts possess activity comparable to Pt when functioning as anode and cathode catalysts, respectively, at 200 °C, which is achieved by using a hydroxide-ion conductive Sn_0.92Sb_0.08P₂O₇ electrolyte membrane. The resultant H₂/air fuel cell yielded increasing peak power densities with temperature: 60 mW cm⁻² at 100 °C, 101 mW cm⁻² at 150 °C, and 152 mW cm⁻² at 200 °C. Note that the peak power density obtained for the Pt/C anode and cathode was 147 mW cm⁻² at 200 °C. High durability of the present fuel cell was also confirmed at 200 °C.