PHOSPHORUS-ACID IMPURITIES IN PHOSPHORIC-ACID FUEL-CELL ELECTROLYTES .2. EFFECTS ON THE OXYGEN REDUCTION REACTION AT PLATINUM-ELECTRODES

The effects of phosphorous acid additions on the oxygen reduction reac tion at platinum electrodes in concentrated phosphoric acid were studi ed. The oxygen reduction currents decreased, and the Tafel slopes beca me more negative upon the addition of small concentrations of phosphor ous acid. In addition, the phosphorous acid oxidation current tended t o compete with the oxygen reduction current. These effects became more pronounced at higher phosphorous acid concentrations and at higher te mperatures. Upon the addition of phosphorous acid the number of electr ons involved in the oxygen reduction reaction decreased from a value c lose to four to a value approaching two, suggesting promotion of a two -electron reduction to peroxide. Therefore, in studies of the electroc hemical reduction of oxygen in hot concentrated phosphoric acid or in fuel cell systems using hot concentrated phosphoric acid as electrolyt e, it is recommended that precautions be taken against the inadvertent formation of phosphorous acid. The removal of phosphorous acid from c oncentrated phosphoric acid by repeated potential cycling at 100 mV/s between +0.5 and +1.50 V (vs. dynamic hydrogen electrode) was demonstr ated.