High performance electrolyte for molten carbonate fuel cells comprising carbonate electrolyte doped with additive material(s) and lithium precursor(s)

A method of manufacturing a molten carbonate fuel cell assembly with a high-performance carbonate electrolyte, said molten carbonate fuel cell assembly comprising a cathode electrode, an anode electrode, an electrolyte matrix, at least a cathode current collector abutting said cathode electrode, and said method comprising:

• forming a first carbonate electrolyte by mixing a first predetermined amount of eutectic Li/Na carbonate electrolyte doped with a second predetermined amount of one or more additive materials, with a third predetermined amount of one or more lithium precursors, wherein said additive materials include one or more of Rb2CO3, Cs2CO3, BaCO3, La2O3, Bi2O3, Ta2O5 and mixtures thereof;
• storing said first carbonate electrolyte in at least said cathode electrode of said molten carbonate fuel cell assembly;
• forming a second carbonate electrolyte having a composition that is the same or different from said first carbonate electrolyte;
• and
• storing said second carbonate electrolyte in at least said cathode current collector of said molten carbonate fuel cell assembly.

A high-performance carbonate electrolyte for use in a molten carbonate fuel cell comprising a cathode electrode, an anode electrode, an electrolyte matrix and at least a cathode current collector abutting said cathode electrode, said high-performance carbonate electrolyte comprising:

• a first carbonate electrolyte stored in the cathode electrode of the molten carbonate fuel cell comprising a mixture of Li/Na carbonate electrolyte doped with one or more additive materials and one or more lithium precursors, wherein said additive materials include one or more of Rb2CO3, Cs2CO3, BaCO3, La2O3, Bi2O3, Ta2O5 and mixtures thereof;
• and
• a second carbonate electrolyte stored in said cathode current collector, said second carbonate electrolyte comprising a mixture of Li/Na carbonate electrolyte,
• wherein the cathode current collector does not store therein any electrolyte doped with the one or more additive materials.