Inorganic salt mixtures as electrolyte media in fuel cells

A method of converting chemical energy into electrical energy in a fuel cell, the method comprising:

• supplying a fuel to an anode in the fuel cell;
• supplying oxygen to a cathode in the fuel cell;
• and
• placing an electrolyte medium in an electrolyte chamber in the fuel cell, the electrolyte medium in contact with the anode and the cathode, the electrolyte medium comprising an inorganic salt mixture, the salt mixture comprising pre-determined quantities of at least two salts chosen from a group consisting of ammonium trifluoromethanesulfonate (NH4Tf), ammonium trifluoroacetate (NH4TFAc), and ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), to conduct charge from the anode to the cathode.

A fuel cell comprising:

• an anode to receive a fuel;
• a cathode to receive oxygen;
• and
• an electrolyte chamber in the fuel cell, including an electrolyte medium in contact with the anode and the cathode, the electrolyte medium comprising an inorganic salt mixture, the salt mixture comprising pre-determined quantities of at least two salts chosen from a group consisting of ammonium trifluoromethanesulfonate (NH4Tf), ammonium trifluoroacetate (NH4TFAc), and ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), to conduct charge from the anode to the cathode.

A system for converting chemical energy into electrical energy, the system comprising:

• a fuel cell comprising:
• an anode to receive a fuel;
• a cathode to receive oxygen;
• and
• an electrolyte chamber in the fuel cell, including an electrolyte medium in contact with the anode and the cathode, the electrolyte medium comprising an inorganic salt mixture, the salt mixture comprising pre-determined quantities of at least two salts chosen from a group consisting of ammonium trifluoromethanesulfonate (NH4Tf), ammonium trifluoroacetate (NH4TFAc), and ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), wherein the salts are proton transfer salts comprising a protonated nitrogenic inorganic base, to conduct charge from the anode to the cathode;
• and
• an electrical circuit operatively coupled to the fuel cell to conduct electric current from the anode to the cathode.

A system for converting chemical energy into electrical energy, the system comprising:

• a fuel cell comprising:
• an anode to receive a fuel;
• a cathode to receive oxygen;
• and
• an electrolyte chamber in the fuel cell, including an electrolyte medium in contact with the anode and the cathode, the electrolyte medium comprising an inorganic salt mixture, the salt mixture comprising pre-determined quantities of at least two salts, wherein the salts are proton transfer salts comprising a protonated nitrogenic inorganic base, to conduct charge from the anode to the cathode, wherein the nitrogenic inorganic base comprises one of hydrazine, methyl hydrazine, and fluorosulfonylamine;
• and
• an electrical circuit operatively coupled to the fuel cell to conduct electric current from the anode to the cathode.