Molten carbonate fuel cells with electrolyte plates prepared with paper-making method

The performance of electrolyte plate matrices for molten carbonate fuel cells made by a fabrication method called the paper-making method is investigated. The matrix porosity obtained was within the preferable porosity range of about 60 to 70%. In the porosity range from 65 to 76% crossover leakage was kept to a minimum and was little affected by the thermal cycle. At porosities of less than 60%, crossover leakage increased. These results agreed with those obtained in a free thermal-cycle test in which an electrolyte plate was placed in a furnace and repeatedly heated and cooled. A single 200 cm² cell with an electrolyte plate of about 68% porosity produced by the paper-making method has been subjected to more than 8200 h of continuous operation. The degradation rate of the cell voltage was about 30 μV/h. The main causes of this degradation were creepage of the electrolyte from the electrolyte plate and the reaction of the electrolyte with the reinforcing materials, such as alumina fiber