Fuel cells and fuel cell systems containing non-aqueous electrolytes

A fuel cell system, comprising:

• a source of an anode feedstock, wherein the anode feedstock includes at least one composition that contains chemically bound hydrogen and which liberates protons at an anode of a fuel cell;
• a fuel cell stack adapted to receive a stream containing the anode feedstock and containing at least one fuel cell comprising:
• an anode region adapted to receive at least a portion of the stream containing the anode feedstock;
• a cathode region adapted to receive a stream containing oxygen;
• and
• an electrolytic barrier separating the cathode region and the anode region, wherein the electrolytic barrier includes a non-aqueous electrolyte that is either acidic or basic, and further wherein the non-aqueous electrolyte includes an organic ionic liquid and has a Ka greater than 5×10−6 at 25° C. if the non-aqueous electrolyte is acidic, or a Kb greater than 5×10−6 at 25° C. if the non-aqueous electrolyte is basic.

A fuel cell, comprising:

• an anode region adapted to receive a hydrogen stream;
• a cathode region adapted to receive a stream containing oxygen;
• and
• an electrolytic barrier separating the anode region from the cathode region, wherein the electrolytic barrier includes a basic non-aqueous liquid electrolyte with a base ionization constant (Kb) greater than 5×10−6 at 25° C.;
• and further wherein the fuel cell has an operating temperature of less than 300° C.

A fuel cell, comprising:

• an anode region adapted to receive a hydrogen stream;
• a cathode region adapted to receive a stream containing oxygen;
• and
• an electrolytic barrier separating the anode region from the cathode region, wherein the electrolytic barrier includes a non-aqueous liquid electrolyte;
• wherein the non-aqueous liquid electrolyte includes a mixture of a solvent combined with an acidic or basic solute and has an acid ionization constant (Ka) greater than 5×10−6 at 25° C. if the non-aqueous liquid electrolyte is an acid and a base ionization constant (Kb) greater than 5×10−6 at 25° C. if the non-aqueous liquid electrolyte is a base;
• wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of a hydrocarbon and a polyalcohol;
• and further wherein the fuel cell has an operating temperature of less than 300° C.

A fuel cell, comprising:

• an anode region adapted to receive a hydrogen stream;
• a cathode region adapted to receive a stream containing oxygen;
• and
• an electrolytic barrier separating the anode region from the cathode region, wherein the electrolytic barrier includes a non-aqueous liquid electrolyte;
• wherein the non-aqueous liquid electrolyte includes a mixture of a solvent combined with an acidic or basic solute and has an acid ionization constant (Ka) greater than 5×10−6 at 25° C. if the non-aqueous liquid electrolyte is an acid and a base ionization constant (Kb) greater than 5×10−6 at 25° C. if the non-aqueous liquid electrolyte is a base;
• wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of:
• hexadecane, decane, kerosene, propylene carbonate, propylene glycol, o-dichlorobenzene, and 1,3,5-trichlorobenzene;
• and further wherein the fuel cell has an operating temperature of less than 300° C.

A fuel cell system, comprising:

• a source of an anode feedstock, wherein the anode feedstock contains chemically bound hydrogen, liberates protons at an anode of a fuel cell and includes at least one component selected from the group consisting of:
• methanol, hydrazine, formaldehyde and ethanol;
• a fuel cell stack adapted to receive a stream containing the anode feedstock and containing at least one fuel cell comprising:
• an anode region adapted to receive at least a portion of the stream containing the anode feedstock;
• a cathode region adapted to receive a stream containing oxygen;
• and
• an electrolytic barrier separating the anode region from the cathode region, wherein the electrolytic barrier includes an acidic or basic non-aqueous liquid electrolyte, and further wherein the non-aqueous liquid electrolyte has a Ka greater than 5×10−6 at 25° C. if the non-aqueous liquid electrolyte is acidic, or a Kb greater than 5×10−6 at 25° C. if the non-aqueous liquid electrolyte is basic.

A fuel cell, comprising:

• an anode region adapted to receive a hydrogen stream;
• a cathode region adapted to receive a stream containing oxygen;
• and
• an electrolytic barrier separating the anode region from the cathode region, wherein the electrolytic barrier includes an acidic non-aqueous liquid electrolyte with an acid ionization constant (Ka) between 5×10−6 and 7×10−3 at 25° C.;
• and further wherein the fuel cell has an operating temperature of less than 300° C.