ALKALI INSERTION WITHIN NIO NI ELECTRODE IN CONTACT WITH MOLTEN LI2CO3-K2CO3 AND LI2CO3-NA2CO3-K2CO3 AT 650 DEGREES-C/

Lithium, sodium and potassium species have been analysed by different spectroscopic techniques in the NiO layer recovering nickel cathode us ed in the state-of-the-art molten carbonate fuel cell. The nickel elec trode was previously oxidized in lithium-containing carbonate electrol ytes, Li2CO3-K2CO3 and Li2CO3-Na2CO3-K2CO3 at 650 degrees C. Similarly to the well-known case of lithium, it has been shown that the presenc e of sodium and potassium cations could be associated to their inserti on in the NiO lattice.