Cathode preparation method for molten carbonate fuel cell
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
InventorsJames L. Smith, James W. Sim, Eugenia H. Kucera
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Abstract
A method of preparing a porous cathode structure for use in a molten carbonate fuel cell begins by providing a porous integral plaque of sintered nickel oxide particles. The nickel oxide plaque can be obtained by oxidizing a sintered plaque of nickel metal or by compacting and sintering finely divided nickel oxide particles to the desired pore structure. The porous sintered nickel oxide plaque is contacted with a lithium salt for a sufficient time to lithiate the nickel oxide structure and thus enhance its electronic conductivity. The lithiation can be carried out either within an operating fuel cell or prior to assembling the plaque as a cathode within the fuel cell.
Claims10
A method of preparing a cathode structure for use in a fuel cell with a molten carbonate salt electrolyte comprising:
- providing a porous sintered plaque of nickel metal that is substantially free of lithium;
- oxidizing the nickel metal in said porous plaque substantially free of lithium to form nickel oxide by contact with an oxygen containing gas at a temperature of no more than about 600.degree. C. to 700.degree. C.;
- and
- subsequently adding to said plaque a limited amount of lithium salt at a temperature of no more than 600.degree.-700.degree. C. to lithiate said nickel oxide to a lithium level of about 1-6 atom percent lithium while maintaining the structure integrity of said plaque.
A method of preparing a porous cathode structure for use within a fuel cell employing a molten carbonate salt electrolyte and gaseous reactants comprising:
- providing finely divided nickel oxide powder;
- compacting said powder to form a thin, cohesive nickel oxide layer;
- sintering said layer at a sufficient temperature and time to provide an integral porous plaque that is substantially free of lithium;
- and
- contacting said plaque at a temperature of no more than 600.degree.-700.degree. C. with a limited amount of lithium salt substantially free of halides without flooding the porous volume of said plaque to wet internal pore surfaces and lithiate the nickel oxide.
method of preparing a porous cathode structure for use within a fuel cell employing a molten carbonate salt electrolyte and gaseous reactants comprising:
- providing finely divided nickel oxide powder;
- comacting said powder to form a thin, cohesive nickel oxide layer;
- sintering said layer at a temperature of 1100.degree.-1400.degree. C. for a sufficient time to provide an integral porous plaque that is substantially free of lithium;
- and
- subsequently contacting said plaque with a limited amount of lithium salt substantially free of halides without flooding the porous volume of said plaque to wet internal pore surfces and lithiate the nickel oxide at a temperature of 600.degree.-700.degree. C.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.