CATHODE CATALYST SUPPORT MATERIALS FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE ALKALINE FUEL CELLS

THIS PROPOSAL AIMS TO DEVELOP NIO BASED (E.G., NI(1-X)LIX0) CATALYST SUPPORTS TO BE USED IN TEFLON BONDED OXYGEN CATHODES OF HYDROGEN-OXYGEN FUEL CELLS CAPABLE OF OPERATING AT TEMPERATURES OF 150 DEGREES CENTIGRADE AND HIGHER, IN CONTRAST TO PRESENT-DAY SPACE FUEL CELLS WHICH OPERATE AT TEMPERATURES OF LESS THAN 90 DEGREES CENTIGRADE. THE HIGHER TEMPERATURES INCREASE THE OVERALL EFFICIENCY OF THE FUEL CELL SYSTEM BY REDUCING THE OVERVOLTAGE (MOSTLY OF THE OXYGEN ELECTRODE) AND THE IR DROP. TECHNIQUES TO PREPARE LITHIATED NICKEL OXIDE OF ADEQUATE SURFACE AREA AND CONDUCTIVITY ALONG WITH CATALYZATION PROCEDURES WILL BE DEVELOPED. POROUS TEFLON BONDED ELECTRODES WILL BE FABRICATED OUT OF THIS MATERIAL AND THEIR ELECTROCHEMICAL PERFORMANCE EVALUATED. AT THE END OF THE PHASE I PROGRAM, THE FEASIBILITY OF NICKEL OXIDE BASED MATERIAL AS CATHODE CATALYST SUPPORT FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE FUEL CELLS WOULD HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED.