# US 6,844,102 B2 · Aqueous based electrolyte slurry for MCFC and method of use

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- Number: US 6,844,102 B2
- Document ID: US6844102B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/083,856
- Filed: 2002-02-27
- Published: 2003-08-28
- Granted: 2005-01-18
- Earliest claimed: 2002-02-27
- Assignees: GenCell Corporation
- Inventors: Jeffrey Peter Allen; David A. Schoonmaker
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6844102B2

## CPC

- H01M 4/881: {Electrolytic membranes}
- H01M 4/8621: {containing only metallic or ceramic material, e.g. made by sintering or sputtering}
- H01M 8/04283: {Supply means of electrolyte to or in matrix-fuel cells}
- H01M 8/142: {with matrix-supported or semi-solid matrix-reinforced electrolyte}
- H01M 8/145: {comprising carbonates}
- H01M 2300/0051: Carbonates
- Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

The present invention provides an aqueous-based electrolyte slurry for molten carbonate fuel cells. The invention provides means to eliminate the potential for the preferential transport of potassium carbonate and subsequent irreversible alteration of the 62/38 molar ratio of the eutectic mixture of the lithium potassium carbonate electrolyte.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for providing a supply of electrolyte to a molten carbonate fuel cell, said method comprising the steps of:
a) preparing an aqueous-based slurry paste of electrolyte, said aqueous-based slurry comprising solid electrolyte particles dispersed in a carrier vehicle;
b) spreading said slurry paste into flow channels of one or more bipolar plates during assembly so as to completely fill said flow channels;
c) drying said slurry paste, and
d) installing a current collector and an electrode onto the flow channels of said bipolar plate.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said carrier vehicle is present in the slurry in the amount of about 27%.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said carrier vehicle is water.

### Claim 4

A molten carbonate fuel cell comprising a cathode electrode and an anode electrode each having a matrix side and a flow field side, said matrix side of said anode electrode and said matrix side of said cathode electrode positioned on either side and in contact with an electrolyte matrix, wherein the anode electrode is in contact with a first flow field on the flow field side of the anode electrode, wherein the cathode electrode is in contact with a second flow field on the flow field side of the cathode electrode, and wherein at least one of the first flow field and second flow field contains a packed bed of dried electrolyte,
wherein the packed bed of dried electrolyte is prepared by spreading an aqueous-based slurry of solid electrolyte particles dispersed in a carrier into at least one of the first flow field and second flow field and drying the slurry.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The fuel cell of claim 4 wherein the carrier is water.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the aqueous-based slurry paste is dried by flowing ambient air over the bipolar plates.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the electrolyte comprises lithium carbonate and potassium carbonate.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the electrolyte comprises 62 mole % lithium carbonate and 38 mole % potassium carbonate.