POROUS-ELECTRODE FORMED BY NICKEL-POLYMER ELECTROCODEPOSITION

New materials for an efficient porous electrode in MCFC have been synt hesized by processing ?Ii-polymer electrocodeposits which was further fired in a furnace in oxygen flow. Characterization of Ni-polymer code posits and their oxide powders has been performed by means of specific gravity measurement, Orsat apparatus and mercury intrusion porosimete r. Ni-polymer electrocodeposits on Cu substrate showed a decrease in s pecific gravity in proportional to the polymer content in the deposits , which evidences the occluded polymer in Ei matrix. The content of po lymer was also confirmed by volumetric measurement of CO2 formed by ox idation, which was counted with a gas burette linked to a basic absorb er. Although the properties of polymer embedded in Ni matrix was not d early understood, the DSC signal indicated the desorption peak at 250 degrees C whose exothermic heats were also proportional to the polymer content in the Ni-polymer deposits. The characteristics of the surfac e and transverse morphologies of oxidized Ni plaques were categolized into Surface, Inner and Porous regions. The porous region obtained fro m higher polymer codeposits seems to be especially useful in preparing porous electrode without any adjustable treatments. It was found that the materials oxidized at 600 and 800 degrees C (bath conditions: 50 degrees C, polymer concentration: 20g . dm(-3)) revealed an optimum co ndition, which is attributable to well defined two mode pore distribut ion.