Stability and solubility of electrolyte matrix support material for molten carbonate fuel cells

To maintain the amount of electrolyte in the matrix at an appropriate level for long-term operation is of great importance in prolonging the life of a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC). Lithium aluminate, the state-of-the art material for the matrix substrate, still requires improvement in terms of the stability of crystal phase and the particle growth. Phase transformation and particle growth proceed rapidly at high temperature, at low partial pressure of carbon dioxide, or in strong basic molten carbonate. Such phenomena are considered to occur through ‘dissolution–precipitation processesʹ. In this research, a strong correlation is observed between the solubility and the stability of LiAlO2.